HUNTINGTON – Huntington's Steel, West Virginia, explains that it can thrive in a green economy.
US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm and US Senator Joe Manchin, DW.Va. There was more evidence than it was known. The company made valve covers that are used in the construction of ships that carry goods along the Atlantic coast to build large wind turbines. .. The project is being carried out jointly by Steel, Dominion Energy, West Virginia and Ørsted Offshore, North America, officials said.
Charles Abbott, Vice President and General Manager of Steel, West Virginia said:
According to Abbott, the company started rolling lightbulbs in 2015.
“I realized that this important shipbuilding component is no longer made in the US,” he said.
The Jones Act of 1920, or the Merchant Shipping Act, which helped West Virginia Steel supply valve covers for wind turbine ships, was built by U.S. citizens on ships that were used to move goods between U.S. ports. It is mandatory to own and operate. For security reasons, Abbott said.
“The Jones Act kept many American shipyards alive,” he said. “Without them, the United States would have lost much of its ability to produce ships in many of the same countries that are currently threatening the steel industry.”
Most people have seldom heard of West Virginia Steel doing anything in the maritime industry, but Abbott says West Virginia Steel is not the first sale of green power. ..
“In fact, West Virginia steel was green long before it cooled,” said Abbott. “The steel process in West Virginia is not only environmentally friendly, but the company has been supplying recycled steel to green industries such as solar parks and local transportation for many years.”
What many don't know, Abbott says, is that West Virginia Steel is actually a very large recycling facility.
“We've been recycling steel in some way since 1907, but now we're the largest recycler in West Virginia,” he said. “Our hardworking men and women take the scrap that is eventually disposed of in landfills and backyards and recycle this steel in the melting process of an electric arc furnace, which is more than traditional blast furnace steelmaking. Clean and energy efficient. The manufacture of furnace steel is less clean and less efficient than the steel recycling process in West Virginia, which uses the basic elements to make new steel. “
West Virginia Steel takes and smelts steel scrap to make new steel for use in crash barriers, transportation equipment, and other products.
“We use this recycled steel to make a variety of products for many green industries, such as support beams for solar panels,” said Abbott. “The ingenuity of our team has served the industry and created a new lightweight I-beam that replaced expensive import support over a decade ago. Now our steel is so wonderful. It's found in solar power plants across the country. “
With support from parent company Steel Dynamics Inc., Steel of West Virginia has invested more than $ 21 million to build a state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly galvanizing plant in Wurtland, Kentucky.
According to Abbott, Steel Ventures has gained more than 20% of the domestic solar market since September 2018 through the production and coating of support structures for solar modules.
“The new facility not only created new jobs in Kentucky, but also preserved Huntington's jobs as the host-coated steel is made in Huntington,” he said.
West Virginia steel also rolls light rail vehicles, which are used in both mass transit systems and coal mines.
“And of course, our bulb flats add strength and stability to ships like the ships Dominion Energy builds to install wind turbines for new offshore wind energy developments,” said Abbott. Told. “Steel of West Virginia has hundreds of people who make and manufacture products for an energy efficient future. Economists say each of these jobs creates nine more support jobs in the local economy. I will tell you. “
With a little help from Congress, he can continue to thrive in the green economy, Abbott says.
“If Congress is to make sure that clean energy is really clean, it has to make sure that US manufacturers and US steel are key to the process. Senator Manchin and Senator Capito of Washington. We thank Congressman Miller for his leadership role in ensuring that US jobs and steel are a priority in rebuilding US energy infrastructure. “
Abbott says there is healthy domestic competition for the energy and infrastructure markets in the United States.
“All American steelmakers must comply with US environmental and labor laws that protect the health and safety of their employees and communities and ensure that the highest environmental standards are met,” he said. “We live and work in this community. We take the health and safety of our employees and the health and safety of our communities very seriously. The same applies to steel manufactured abroad. No. Few foreign competitors are bound by the same high environmental standards as American manufacturers. Many steel mills around the world, from Europe to Asia, are owned by governments promoting overcapacity. We sell steel at a cost that is below the market price in order to keep jobs for reasons of social stability. “
According to Abbott, China's overcapacity is not only China's only one, but China's overcapacity is a big problem for the global steel industry.
“In 2010, China produced 655 million tons of hot rolled steel. Throughout the decade, China continued to expand its ultra-high-speed capacity, and by 2019, Chinese steel production (900 million). (53 million t) accounted for 54% of world steel production (1756,000 t). “The United States will produce 87.2 million tons and 108.5 million tons of hot rolled steel in 2019. China's production increase by 298 million tons reduces US demand. “
Abbott said in recent years some of these foreign competitors have been found tampering with material designations to avoid paying tariffs on steel imports.
“Senator Manchin, Senator Kapito, and Senator Miller presented these operations and greatly supported our efforts to ensure fair competition for American steel,” he said. I did.
Abbott says Congress must ensure hardworking Americans are not left behind.
“Tax credits for green energy and infrastructure projects should go to companies that employ American workers with occupational safety standards to install US-made products, including American steel,” he said. “Clean energy is as clean as the components that make it up. We have the opportunity to marry economic development and environmental responsibility that can be led by citizens of West Virginia. “
West Virginia Steel shows success in a green economy to the citizens of West Virginia | Companies
Source link West Virginia Steel shows the citizens of West Virginia success in a green economy | Companies