Rep. Kelly holds town hall on DOE electric grid rule

On Monday, U.S. Rep Mike Kelly (R-PA) held a public town hall meeting to discuss a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) proposed rule that could jeopardize 1,300 jobs at the Cleveland-Cliffs Butler Works plant.

To a standing-room only crowd, Kelly addressed workers and leaders from the Cleveland-Cliffs Butler Works and United Auto Workers Local 3303 at the Butler County Community College’s Founders Hall. Kelly was joined by union leaders and the general manager of Cleveland-Cliffs.

At issue is a Proposed Rule from the DOE that would undermine domestic Grain Oriented Electrical Steel (GOES) production. Cleveland-Cliffs is the last American producer of Grain Oriented Electrical Steel, a necessary component in the country’s electrical grid currently. Switching electrical distribution transformers from GOES to amorphous steel would pose risks to the country’s supply chain and national security, Kelly and others said, because major amorphous steel producers are located overseas.

“The purpose of our town hall was to give the community a chance to make their voice heard. The message we heard was loud and clear: The Department of Energy must formally repeal this rule to save 1,300 family-sustaining jobs at Cleveland-Cliffs Butler Works and to protect the Butler economy,” Kelly said. “This fight isn’t just about the jobs at this plant. Seven jobs in the Butler community depend on each job at the Butler Works plant. I will continue fighting to protect these jobs until a deal is in writing and the ink is dry.”

The proposed rule would increase efficiency standards on distribution transformers that are already no less than 97.7 percent energy efficient. In December, Kelly and U.S. Rep. Deluzio (D-PA) wrote to U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm in opposition to the proposed rule.