Middletown at Crossroads as Coke-Driven Steel Relining Prolongs Pollution
Locals in Middletown, Ohio fear that Cleveland-Cliffs’ plan to reline its No. 3 blast furnace will lock in decades of coke-fired steelmaking and air pollution, despite prior federal backing for a hydrogen-powered upgrade; the multi-hundred-million-dollar move would extend operations for 15–18 years and worsen health risks for nearby residents, amid broader industry struggles and limited disposal details.