Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Industrial Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Gary council urges US Steel, Nippon to invest in 'green steel' direct-reduction technology
Summary
The council passed CPR 2026-07 urging Neopont (Nippon) Steel and US Steel to use committed investment funds to install direct-reduction ironmaking at Gary Works to reduce emissions, protect jobs and sustain competitiveness.
On July 21 the Gary Common Council passed CPR 2026-07, a resolution urging Neopont (Nippon) Steel and US Steel to invest remaining committed funds at Gary Works in direct-reduction (DR) ironmaking and related facilities. Sponsors said the resolution recognizes Gary as an environmental-justice community and calls for a collaborative transition that protects jobs, strengthens competitiveness and reduces harmful emissions.
Speakers at public comment and council supporters framed the resolution as both an environmental and economic measure. "Keeping the blast furnace at Gary Works means we will continue to breathe unhealthy air," public commenter Carolyn McCrady said. Doreen Carey, president of Gary Advocates for Responsible Development (GARD), told the council the shift to DR technology would make Gary's air cleaner, provide jobs, and ensure the mill remains competitive. The resolution cites a reported $1.3 billion commitment to Gary Works by the new owner and urges corporate and federal cooperation to meet EPA rules and support workforce transition.
The council voted to transmit the resolution broadly to regional officials, federal representatives, and neighboring municipalities; staff said the measure is a formal request and advocacy tool, not a regulatory order. The resolution called for prioritizing local hiring and preserving union jobs during any modernization.
