The Biden administration's $500 million grant to upgrade a steel plant in JD Vance's hometown aims to reduce pollution but faces skepticism among locals.
Scott Waldman reports for POLITICO.
In short:
- The grant will help the Cleveland-Cliffs plant in Middletown, Ohio, transition from coal to cleaner hydrogen and natural gas.
- Despite the investment, many residents are unaware of the grant or attribute it to figures like JD Vance or Trump.
- The plant's future is uncertain if Trump and Vance, who oppose Biden's climate policies, win in 2024.
Key quote:
“I haven’t heard anything about Trump continuing this project. I was thinking he’d probably cancel this project.”
— Gary Combs, a former Armco worker
Why this matters:
Transforming one of the dirtiest steel plants into one of the cleanest could serve as a model for the nation's industrial future, but political divisions may undermine these efforts.
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