Are you proud of where you’re from? Celebrating progress made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act, I’ll share my origin story. Middletown, Ohio is making news because of “Hillbilly Elegy” and politics. Mine’s a different elegy – a story of humble pride, hope, a life’s work for a better future.
I was born in Middletown, raised on a rural road outside Oxford. My father worked in Middletown – a professor at Miami University’s Middletown Campus, the working-class community branch of the Oxford campus. He grew up in Highland, Indiana, “The Region” known for heavy industry outside Chicago. He worked summers in a steel mill to pay his way through college – a family first. He went on to earn a PhD at the University of Miami in Florida, with my mom’s support. He loved people and teaching. A voracious reader, he immersed himself in books about race, human rights movements and Indigenous People. The last book he asked me to get him while he was navigating cancer was about Red Cloud. We lost him at 68, ten years ago this July.
Imagine how my heart swelled when I saw Middletown in the news last March – U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Sec. Jennifer Granholm visited Middletown Works steel plant to announce it would receive a $500 million Invest in America grant. Todd Dykes of WTWD 5 Cincinnati reported:
“Rolling slabs of red-hot steel are a common site at Middletown Works, a factory that's been in operation for more than a century... The company's chairman, Lourenco Goncalves, said the cash will help the huge factory become the ‘lowest greenhouse gas emitting integrated iron and steel facility in the world’ — all while adding 170 new jobs and cutting operating costs.’
“’It's a huge project that’s going to be beneficial for years to come,’ said Shawn Coffey, president of International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers Local 1943. 'You're looking at something that's going to make an impact on someone's kid, someone's grandkid…You can't get any better than that for Middletown Works.'"
As America’s largest-ever investment in #cleanenergy and #climateaction, the #IRA is uplifting local economies, creating jobs and investing back into communities left behind. Places like Middletown.
In its first year, the IRA created over 170,000 jobs. It’s on track to create 1.5 million jobs in 10 years. Whether you’re a new graduate or an experienced worker considering a career shift, you can find great jobs in clean energy.
Everyone has a story about where we’re from and where we’re heading. My dad was an optimist. He dedicated his life to a better world. The #energytransition is a national success story. It’s benefitting people in predominantly Republican states and Democratic alike.
It’s something to be proud of – and continue.
Russ Bates Maria Bries Abby Hopper Mike Casey Peter Pudner Tom Weirich Saxon Metzger Daniel Dus Stephanie Johnson Jason Guindon
Pictured: My father, Larry Greeson, taking a break on the basketball court in Miami, Florida.
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3moIt's fantastic to see Form Energy making such significant strides in Weirton, WV! Hosting U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito highlights the strong support and collaboration at federal, state, and local levels. The rapid progress in construction and the commencement of battery cell production are commendable achievements. This initiative not only strengthens American infrastructure but also revitalizes the local economy by expanding the workforce. How do you envision Form Energy's developments in Weirton influencing the broader landscape of sustainable energy manufacturing in the United States?