The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced that the City of Duluth and its local development partners will receive DOE support to develop hydrogen and renewable energy systems, as well as a clean energy workforce, to enable the deployment of a green iron plant in the region. Minnesota is the nation’s largest producer of iron ore used for domestic steel production.

Ecolibrium3, Minnesota Power, Itasca Economic Development Corporation, and the City of Duluth plan to develop renewable energy, hydrogen power, and a workforce to support a green iron plant in the region.

The team will work with DOE lab experts to de-risk their plans to procure renewable energy and hydrogen and support industrial decarbonization in Northeastern Minnesota.

Duluth is one of three new communities—alongside Nashville, Tennessee, and Lane County, Oregon—to receive $10 million collectively in funding and technical assistance.