United States Steel Corporation announced a significant step in its ongoing commitment to sustainability, environmental excellence and the communities it serves. The company converted two of its diesel switcher locomotives at the Mon Valley Works’ Edgar Thomson and Clairton Plants to state-of-the-art battery-operated locomotives. The locomotives are built by Innovative Rail Technologies (IRT), a provider of customized lithium-ion propulsion solutions to the locomotive rail market. U. S. Steel invested more than $2.3 million in the locomotives while the remaining cost was offset through a partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

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

“Mon Valley Works is the first industrial site to deploy this technology to reduce small particulate matter emissions from its locomotive fleet,” said Scott Buckiso, Senior Vice President and Chief Manufacturing Officer, U. S. Steel. “Advancing our Best for All^® strategy means producing solutions that benefit our customers and communities, people and planet. This includes investing in technological advancements at our facilities.

-via Press Release