Steel Plant Set To Operate on Solar and Wind Power

Taking Advantage of The Saudi Arabia of Wind

The steel industry accounts for about 6%-7% of our world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Yet, up to now, steel industry leaders have only talked about improving efficiency and reducing emissions as their solution to the increasing pollution problem. But a Sedalia, Missouri steel plant owned by Nucor, makes a game-changing statement as they announce that a $250M steel plant is set to operate off solar and wind power – solely – by the end of this year.

With sustainability goals being so important, Nucor’s statement opens that possibility to build similar renewable solutions for plants across the Midwest. Mr. Chuck Caisley, VP of Evergy, a local utility company involved in the project, made a statement that shows there’s no reason other steel plants and large manufacturers, who currently produce massive amounts of emissions, could not do the same.

“We sit in the Saudi Arabia of wind,” said Chuck. “I think that increasingly there will be sustainability requirements companies will want to meet.” Chuck ended his statement by saying, “It reduces our environmental footprint in the area and creates jobs.”

The Nucor plant will employ around 250 people and will use the energy produced by Evergy, including from their new wind farm, to power electric furnaces that will melt scrapped steel and turn it into new, recycled steel. Read the full article.