U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced legislation in the U.S. Senate that seeks to establish the Department of Energy’s (DOE) first research and development (R&D) program focused on low-emission steel production.
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The Steel Upgrading Partnerships and Emissions Reduction (SUPER) Act, S.4559, would foster efforts to reduce emissions from steel manufacturing and help develop strategies to maintain American competitiveness.
“American workers can outcompete anyone in the world if they are working on a level playing field,” Casey said. “This legislation would not only take a step forward to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also promote new, cutting-edge technologies to ensure the American steel industry remains competitive. We must make these investments in domestic manufacturing and American workers while improving the health of our communities and combatting the climate crisis, which will strengthen American economic and national security, lower costs for families, provide good-paying jobs to American workers and ensure that we can make things here in America.”
Specifically, the SUPER Act would establish new, crosscutting steel manufacturing programs and initiatives at the DOE. This would include efforts to apply R&D on new production methods and public-private partnerships to commercialize and promote new low-emissions technologies. Further, it would direct the DOE to develop a five-year strategic plan to support research, development, and demonstration to make technological advancements.