Hilary Lewis
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hilarylewis.bsky.social
Hilary Lewis
@hilarylewis.bsky.social
Steel Director, decarbonizing heavy industry at @industriouslabs.bsky.social. Vote Solar & Earthworks alum.
Reposted by Hilary Lewis
Coal-based steel, it’s a dead end! US Steel planning a new coal-free furnace to make iron for their electric arc furnace in Arkansas. www.arkansasbusiness.com/article/us-s...
US Steel Plans New Facility in Osceola
U.S. Steel announced plans to build a new direct reduced iron plant at its Big River Steel site in Osceola, expanding its northeast Arkansas operations under Nippon Steel’s $11 billion growth plan. Th...
www.arkansasbusiness.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Reposted by Hilary Lewis
Trump's EPA set up a system whereby corporate polluters could be relieved of the burden of meeting air-quality regulations. How? By, uh, asking.

Sure enough, lots of them have asked, with devastating consequences for air quality. New report:
envirodatagov.org
November 12, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Reposted by Hilary Lewis
Qiyam leads a local environmental group in PA. He has an air purifier in every room of his house.

Kiki, pictured here, has asthma and does not appreciate her feline inhaler.

Tighter air pollution rules were finalized last year. Trump's EPA is rolling them back.

📸 @annie-flanagan.bsky.social
Qiyam Ansari has asthma — an attack nearly killed him — and even his cat suffers from it. Their region is notorious for its air pollution.

Trump has halted rules that would have forced companies to more accurately measure and reduce emissions in such areas.

🔗 Full story: https://propub.li/4hDtkcb
November 3, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Congrats @deannafry.tv!! Thank you for sharing this important story about steel industry pollution in Gary 🥳
My ancestors carried me through this year in ways I cannot even put into words. I feel their love and protection more than ever.

This Emmy is for them, and for Gary, Indiana.

If you have a moment, please watch this story. It is my heart, my home on screen: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4Yl...
November 2, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Reposted by Hilary Lewis
For years, some big polluters were allowed to estimate their own emissions.

Now, the intrepid @lisalsong.bsky.social has found emissions at facilities were far higher than their estimates.

Terrifying reporting w/ incredible pics from @annie-flanagan.bsky.social that make me feel like I'm choking:
Air Pollution From Industrial Facilities Is Far Worse Than Estimated
The Trump administration has put a stop to EPA rules that would have required more than 130 industrial facilities to install air monitors to measure pollution. Millions of people living near these pla...
www.propublica.org
October 31, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Coal used for steelmaking, aka coke.
"The month after the closure, emergency room visits for children with asthma dropped by 41 percent. The researchers also found a 20 percent decrease in overall E.R. visits for respiratory problems. Cardiovascular emergency department visits dropped significantly, too."
A Coal-Processing Plant Closed. Local E.R. Visits Dropped Sharply.
www.nytimes.com
October 15, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Reposted by Hilary Lewis
Hydrogen: fuel of the future or hype of the past?

We dig into the promises & pitfalls of hydrogen as clean energy with Joe Romm @penncssm.bsky.social, @hilarylewis.bsky.social @industriouslabs.bsky.social & Eleanor Smith @tonizhoniani.bsky.social

🎧 Listen now: listen.climateone.org/z7oIxKJV?sid...
October 10, 2025 at 7:50 PM
“U.S. Steel needs to invest in transformational technology that brings pollution to near-zero, not just waste recycling.”
$100M recycling facility to replace 'primitive' slag pits at U.S. Steel's Edgar Thomson plant
U.S. Steel’s notoriously outdated Edgar Thomson Works handles the molten substance left behind by smelting iron ore the same way it did 150 years ago: by dumping it into slag pits. They’re...
triblive.com
September 26, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Reposted by Hilary Lewis
If I had a "golden share" in US Steel, I’d demand that U.S. Steel build a direct-reduced-iron plant on the Iron Range and specialty steel mills along the Great Lakes. We must secure the steel industry for decades, not just a couple years. www.startribune.com/trump-golden...
Brown: Trump bossing around U.S. Steel could cost jobs down the line
"The words 'socialism' and 'fascism' sure give people the vapors, but lots of folks can’t seem to recognize them when they walk into the building and lick all the doorknobs," Aaron Brown writes.
www.startribune.com
September 23, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Very proud to have played a small role in this terrific piece from @deannafry.tv about the everyday health harms of coal-based #steel industry pollution in Indiana!
September 25, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Reposted by Hilary Lewis
Cement & concrete drive ~8% of global CO₂ emissions, but clean options aren’t available at scale.

Today, RMI + GMA launched the Sustainable Concrete Buyers Alliance (SCoBA) to change that by aggregating demand & unlocking investment.

Learn more 👉 https://t.co/sh3jlDAoh3 https://t.co/b2T6cpJp0V
September 19, 2025 at 7:35 PM
“I’ve been doing this for 40 years. To have a single source violating NAAQS is huge,” Chinkin said.

via @planetdetroit.org
Zug Island's EES Coke Battery singlehandedly put air quality over federal limits: Expert testimony
EES Coke Battery's emissions exceed Clean Air Act limits, impacting areas far beyond the source, expert says.
planetdetroit.org
September 18, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Decarbonizing Cleveland Works earlier rather than later would be a smart business move for Cliffs. ​“I think the biggest thing is staying competitive.”

Great coverage from @kmkowalski.bsky.social in @canarymedia.com on how clean steel can help @cityofcleveland.bsky.social achieve its climate goals!
A coal-burning steel plant may thwart Cleveland’s climate goals
The facility is the city's biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions. Advocates say its dirty blast furnaces need to be replaced with cleaner technology.
www.canarymedia.com
September 18, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Reposted by Hilary Lewis
Environmental groups are suing the EPA over the delay of a Biden-era rule meant to strengthen standards for hazardous air pollution from steelmaking facilities.
Residents Living in the Shadow of the Steel Industry Ask the EPA to Reconsider Delay of Hazardous Air Pollution Rule - Inside Climate News
In July the agency delayed the implementation of stronger emissions standards and fenceline monitoring at steel and iron facilities for two more years.
insideclimatenews.org
September 5, 2025 at 12:53 AM
EPA is using an unusual loophole to delay iron and steel industry safeguards. “It’s a fake emergency. It’s just an excuse to push back the deadlines because industry doesn’t want to comply," said Jim Pew, an attorney at @earthjustice.org.

by @kiley.bsky.social via @insideclimatenews.org
Residents Living in the Shadow of the Steel Industry Ask the EPA to Reconsider Delay of Hazardous Air Pollution Rule - Inside Climate News
In July the agency delayed the implementation of stronger emissions standards and fenceline monitoring at steel and iron facilities for two more years.
insideclimatenews.org
September 4, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Reposted by Hilary Lewis
City of Cleveland can’t meet its climate goals without clean steel transition from Cleveland-Cliffs, report finds
The Cleveland Works steel mill in the Steelyards is the largest single point emitter of carbon dioxide in Cuyahoga county.
by Celia Hack
signalcleveland.org/city-of-clev...
City of Cleveland’s climate goals require green steel, report finds
The Cleveland Works steel mill in the Steelyards is the largest single point emitter of carbon dioxide in Cuyahoga County.
signalcleveland.org
August 20, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Reposted by Hilary Lewis
NEW REPORT documents dangerous levels of toxic benzene and chromium at fencelines of plants in PA, IN, AL, IL, OH, MI

Read the report: environmentalintegrity.org/news/trump-r...
August 21, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Reposted by Hilary Lewis
This is absolutely wild ---> 'Emissions from the steel mill made up about 30% of Cleveland’s total greenhouse gas emissions in 2022, according to EPA data and the city’s Climate Action Plan. In 2023, that increased to 47% of the city’s emissions.'

signalcleveland.org/city-of-clev...
City of Cleveland’s climate goals require green steel, report finds
The Cleveland Works steel mill in the Steelyards is the largest single point emitter of carbon dioxide in Cuyahoga County.
signalcleveland.org
August 20, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Reposted by Hilary Lewis
As the Trump administration reverses climate policies, steelmakers are canceling "green steel" projects -- and thus jeopardizing the carbon reduction plans of cities like Cleveland.
signalcleveland.org/city-of-clev...
City of Cleveland’s climate goals require green steel, report finds
The Cleveland Works steel mill in the Steelyards is the largest single point emitter of carbon dioxide in Cuyahoga County.
signalcleveland.org
August 20, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Reposted by Hilary Lewis
The White House wants to close the independent agency investigating a deadly explosion at the Clairton U.S. Steel coal-processing plant that killed two people and injured 10 others last week. subscriber.politicop...
E&E News: White House plans to shut down board probing deadly steel mill blast
The U.S. Chemical Safety board is investigating an Aug. 11 explosion that killed two people and injured 10 at a U.S. Steel plant.
subscriber.politicopro.com
August 20, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Climate leaders like Mayor @justinmbibb.bsky.social
+ @sustainablecle.bsky.social can see a climate-aligned future with new jobs, healthier communities and more investment. @industriouslabs.bsky.social's new report details the necessary steps to ensure the local steel industry supports that vision.
City of Cleveland’s climate goals require green steel, report finds
The Cleveland Works steel mill in the Steelyards is the largest single point emitter of carbon dioxide in Cuyahoga County.
signalcleveland.org
August 20, 2025 at 3:41 PM
It's time to turn out! EPA has announced public hearings for the Interim Final Rules that are delaying implementation of the health-protecting hazardous air pollution rules for iron and steel facilities and coke plants by two years. Save the date: September 3 & 4.

via @seanatgreenwire.bsky.social
E&E News: EPA to hold hearings on contested air rules
The rules included a delay on stricter limits on methane emissions by the oil and gas industry.
subscriber.politicopro.com
August 15, 2025 at 12:15 AM
Reposted by Hilary Lewis
An explosion at a U.S. Steel plant in Pennsylvania killed one person and injured at least 10 more on Monday, and rescuers combed through the rubble at the plant in search of survivors, the authorities said.
August 12, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Horrifying disaster at Clairton Coke Works in PA today. Thinking of all the workers and community members. It doesn't have to be this way.
BREAKING: At 10:51 AM today, an explosion occurred at US Steel’s Clairton Coke Works. A mass casualty incident has been declared with multiple injuries. Nearby residents should stay indoors to avoid exposure to the dispersing plume. We'll post updates as they become available.
August 11, 2025 at 5:54 PM