Steel Mills

USS Unveils Battery-Operated Locomotives in Green Push

Written by Ethan Bernard

October 31, 2023

U.S. Steel said it has converted two of its diesel switcher locomotives to “state-of-the-art battery-operated locomotives.”

As part of its “commitment to sustainability,” the Pittsburgh-based steelmaker made the move at its Mon Valley Works’ Edgar Thomson and Clairton Plants in Pennsylvania.

“Mon Valley Works is the first industrial site to deploy this technology to reduce small particulate matter emissions from its locomotive fleet,” Scott Buckiso, SVP and chief manufacturing officer, said in a statement on Monday.

The locomotives, which transport steel, coke, scrap metal, iron ore, and other materials necessary for production within the facilities, “are expected to reduce airborne particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions by .385 tons – the equivalent emissions of 7,000 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles.”

U.S. Steel said it invested more than $2.3 million in the locomotives. The remaining cost was offset through a partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

The company noted the locomotives were built by Innovative Rail Technologies (IRT), “a provider of customized lithium-ion propulsion solutions to the locomotive rail market.”

Ethan Bernard

Ethan Bernard is managing editor for Steel Market Update. He previously worked for American Metal Market as a copy editor in the New York office for two years, starting in 2008. Later, he copy edited AMM’s monthly magazine on a freelance basis from 2015 until 2017. With experience in financial copywriting and textbook publishing, he holds a BA in Comparative Literature from UC Berkeley, and an MFA. in Creative Writing from New York University. He can be reached at ethan@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-759-7871.

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