On track: U.S. Steel converts 2 diesel locomotives to battery power

Within U.S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works, diesel-powered locomotives chug along the plant’s rail lines, hauling tons of steel, coke, scrap metals and iron ore for steel production.

Now, those engines will be a little cleaner.

U.S. Steel converted two of its diesel switcher locomotives at the Mon Valley Works’ Edgar Thomson and Clairton plants to battery-operated locomotives.

“This project is a big step in U.S. Steel’s push toward achieving net-zero emissions by 2050,” said Kurt Barshick, vice president of Mon Valley Works. “Our once-diesel locomotives have been given new life. We’ve repurposed them to run on battery power. That means we’ll be using less fuel and lowering our emissions.

“The future of transportation is electric,” Barshick said.

The conversion was a public-private partnership between the 122-year-old steelmaker and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

Accompanied by a playlist of train-themed songs — Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” and Gladys Knight and the Pips’ “Midnight Train to Georgia,” of course, were included — the company showcased the technology Monday afternoon.

The electric-powered locomotives are expected to reduce airborne particulate matter emissions by .385 tons, the equivalent emissions of 7,000 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles, and cut about 40,000 gallons of fuel, according to U.S. Steel, which spent more than $2.3 million on the project.

Washington D.C.-based Innovative Rail Technologies designed the train engines. Its lithium-ion tech, called Atlas (Advanced Technology Li-Ion Adaptive System), is aimed at the rail market.

“Battery propulsion technology is already in use throughout many modes of transportation, and rail transportation is the next step,” said Ira Dorfman, principal of IRT.

IRT, which was established in 2019, is working with another steelmaker. It plans to deliver the first of two battery-electric switcher locomotives to Nucor Corp.’s Hertford County, N.C., steel mill in the first quarter of 2024.

U.S. Steel hopes to replace its eight other diesel-powered locomotives with batteries, according to Mark Jeffrey, plant manager.

“As we prove out this technology, we’re looking at additional opportunities to expand the battery-powered indoor fleet,” Jeffrey said.

President and CEO David Burritt nodded to the interest from other companies in buying the Pittsburgh steelmaker.

Rival Cleveland-Cliffs offered $7.3 billion to acquire U.S. Steel, which the company rejected Aug. 13, saying Cleveland-Cliffs was pushing it to accept the terms without being allowed to conduct proper due diligence. It also said it had received “multiple unsolicited proposals” for the company’s assets.

Sewickley-based industrial conglomerate Esmark made an offer of $7.8 billion, but withdrew from bidding on Aug. 23.

“You’ve seen all the things that are going on with us,” Burritt said. “We’re getting a little help from all the interest in U.S. Steel. Our stock values are the highest in the industry. It’s great to have our shareholders rewarded in this whole process.”

Over the years, Mon Valley residents and environmental activists have been calling on the plant to reduce emissions.

U.S. Steel, which has a market cap of $7.55 billion, announced in March that it would shut down three of Clairton Coke Work’s 10 coke batteries this month, which it projects will reduce emissions from the plant.

The decision to close the site’s three oldest batteries at the Mon Valley’s biggest source of airborne pollutants was part of the company’s overall goal to cut emissions by 2050.