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Update #16 | Sustainability News from Nucor, Cleveland-Cliffs and the U.S. General Services Administration

In this report, learn about Nucor’s record-setting groundbreaking event in West Virginia, Cleveland-Cliffs successful hydrogen (H2) injection trial and the U.S. General Services Administration’s $2 billion investment in 150+ construction projects that minimize carbon emissions.

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BuildSteel is tracking the sustainability initiatives of Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA) members and their partners. Here is some recent sustainability news related to the cold-formed steel (CFS) framing industry.

Record Set at Nucor’s West Virginia Groundbreaking Event

Nucor Corporation, a Charlotte, N.C., steel products manufacturer and SFIA member, had a “record breaking” groundbreaking of its 1,700-acre Apple Grove steel sheet mill in West Virginia. As part of the groundbreaking ceremony, Nucor invited the Guinness Book of World Records to witness the longest ever shovel relay with 545 participants setting  a 1 kilometer relay record.

Once operational, the new $3.1 billion electric arc furnace steel mill will have the capacity to produce three million tons of sheet steel per year, which will include advanced construction grade products.

Nucor Apple Grove West Virginia

Nucor made the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest ever shovel relay for the groundbreaking of its 1,700-acre sheet mill in West Virginia. Photo Credit: Nucor Corporation

“With our circular production method, Nucor Steel West Virginia will produce sustainable sheet steel with some of the lowest embodied carbon in the world,” said Leon Topalian, chair, president and CEO of Nucor.

The first heat at the new EAF is planned for Q1 2026.

Read the full article.

Cleveland-Cliffs Completes Blast Furnace Hydrogen Injection Trial 

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., an SFIA member, announced it has successfully completed a hydrogen (H2) injection trial at its Indiana Harbor #7 blast furnace, the largest blast furnace in North America. This represents the second Cleveland-Cliffs blast furnace to use hydrogen as a reductant and fuel source, following the successful trial at Middletown Works in May of 2023. 

Cleveland-Cliffs recently completed the commissioning of the hydrogen pipeline at Indiana Harbor, which was used for this trial.

Indiana Harbor Cleveland cliffs

Cleveland-Cliffs successfully completed a hydrogen (H2) injection trial at its Indiana Harbor #7 blast furnace.

“As the American iron and steel leader, we are proud that we are ahead of the rest of the world in using the technologies that make our blast furnace steel the cleanest in the world, including using iron ore pellets, natural gas injection, HBI, and now hydrogen,” said Lourenco Goncalves, Cleveland-Cliffs’ chairman, president and CEO.

Read the full article.

GSA Invests $2 Billion in Low-Carbon Construction at Federal Buildings

The United States General Services Administration announced a $2 billion investment for more than 150 construction projects that use materials that minimize carbon emissions. 

The funding will support projects across 39 states, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and will catalyze the market for American-made low carbon asphalt, concrete, glass and steel. 

 


“The federal government is leading by example in tackling the climate crisis by spurring demand for low-carbon manufacturing,” said John Podesta, senior advisor to President Biden for clean energy innovation and implementation. “This is exactly what President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is all about — boosting American innovation, building a clean energy economy and creating good-paying jobs all across the country.”

The Biden administration has a goal to have a net-zero emissions federal building portfolio by 2045 and net-zero emissions in government procurement by 2050.

Read the full article.

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