The United Steelworkers Union in Granite City is trying a new tactic to prevent the proposed sellout of the city's steel mill — and to prevent around 900 layoffs.
Local union president Dan Simmons tells KMOX that in meetings with Illinois Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth, he's discussed how there might be a hidden reason U.S. Steel would want to sell off the Granite City mill to another company: To improve its carbon scorecard.
"I believe you can sidestep the regulations by passing those carbon credits that would be charged against yourself as an owner of a company, and they would then be charged to a new owner of a different company," Simmons said. That means U.S. Steel would be passing its carbon footprint off to Suncoke in the deal. "That's the only thing I can think of, and they call that 'greenwashing,'" he added.
Simmons said he's hoping the Senators can find some way to help U.S. Steel with its carbon footprint that doesn't involve selling the Granite City mill.
U.S. Steel released a statement reading "We continue to work with Suncoke to reach an agreement."
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