Voters in Vance’s hometown furious at Donald Trump admin siding with ‘horrible’ polluter

The administration of Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance is facing criticism after a major environmental decision affecting Middletown, Ohio Vance’s hometown.

A planned $500 million federal grant that was meant to upgrade a local steel plant into a cleaner, modern facility has been cancelled. The project would have replaced older, high-pollution systems with newer technology powered by hydrogen, which experts say could have made the plant one of the cleanest in the world.

Instead, the company Cleveland-Cliffs is now moving forward with plans to keep using its existing blast furnace, which relies on coal and coke both major sources of pollution. This means the plant could continue operating in its current form for another 15 to 18 years.

The company’s CEO, Lourenco Goncalves, has openly supported the decision, even echoing Trump’s well-known support for coal when speaking to investors.

The blast furnace in question dates back to the 1950s and produces millions of tons of steel each year. However, it also burns large amounts of coke, which releases harmful pollutants into the air.

Environmental and health concerns are a big part of the backlash. Estimates suggest that continued operation at this level could lead to serious long-term effects, including hundreds or even over a thousand premature deaths, along with widespread respiratory issues and other illnesses in the surrounding community.

The plant is already known as one of the top carbon monoxide emitters in the United States, based on data from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Residents in the area say they are already feeling the impact. Some report constant soot settling on their homes, cars, and even children’s toys. Others have described worsening health conditions, especially among children with breathing problems like asthma.

The earlier plan, backed by the administration of former President Joe Biden, aimed to significantly reduce emissions and improve public health by transitioning the plant away from fossil fuels.

Critics now argue that abandoning that plan prioritizes traditional energy sources over cleaner alternatives, and could leave the community dealing with pollution and health risks for many years to come.