Green Steel Interview with Jon Gordon
Interviewer: Jenson Vliss, Director Business Development at California Metals
Interviewee: Jon Gordon, Deputy Director, Green Steel Program at CALSTART
Introduction
Jenson Vliss: Jon, could you tell us about yourself and how you came into your current role?
Jon Gordon: I studied Civil and Environmental Engineering at UC Davis, conducting research on electric vehicles during my senior year at the Institute of Transportation Studies. After graduating, I moved to Los Angeles and joined Energy Independence Now, where I analyzed the hydrogen and fuel cell vehicle markets. My next step was joining CALSTART. Initially, I helped deploy zero-emission off-road equipment to ports, airports, and railyards through the CORE program. Later, I analyzed the performance of zero-emission Class 8 trucks operating at freight facilities and the Ports of LA and Long Beach. I took a brief hiatus from CALSTART to earn my master’s in engineering and public policy from Carnegie Mellon. Upon graduation, I returned to CALSTART as their Deputy Director for the Green Steel Program which aims to decarbonize the steel and aluminum used in vehicles. I love that it connects multiple sectors all working towards a decarbonized economy.
About CALSTART
Jenson Vliss: That’s quite a journey. Could you tell us more about CALSTART?
Jon Gordon: CALSTART is a nonprofit with a big mission: decarbonizing transportation. We’re all over the US and even in Europe. We focus on everything from e-bikes to heavy-duty trucks, and now we’re tackling vehicle production emissions too. We wear many hats – we shape policies, analyze zero-emission tech, help fleets go green, and even work globally to spread California’s eco-friendly policies. We collaborate close with industry and have also over 300 companies in the industry. I work on CALSTART’s Light Duty team, focusing on greening ride-hailing, expanding workplace charging, and boosting EV battery production in California. We’re also accelerating the retirement of gas cars. Currently, I’m leading our Green Steel Program to reduce emissions in vehicle manufacturing.
Decarbonization in the steel industry
Jenson Vliss: That’s fascinating. So, what does a decarbonized steel industry in the US look like to you?
Jon Gordon: In a decarbonized US steel industry, we’d maintain our 20 million tons annual production without fossil fuels. We aim to transition from coal to clean electricity and hydrogen, establishing 8-12 green steel facilities nationwide. Progress is underway: in March 2024, the DOE announced $1 billion for the first US green steel facilities. Two projects are in development: SSAB’s hydrogen-powered plant in Mississippi and Cleveland Cliffs’ convertible plant in Ohio, both set to operate by the late 2020s. This marks the beginning of our transition away from coal-based manufacturing in this emissions-heavy sector.
Jenson Vliss: That sounds promising. What are the main challenges in establishing these facilities more quickly?
Jon Gordon: Transitioning to green steel production faces several challenges. The biggest is cost, with each new facility exceeding $1 billion. We need more government subsidies beyond the initial $1 billion to establish all 8-12 planned facilities. Securing demand is crucial, as we must ensure buyers for the initially pricier green steel, particularly from automakers. Clean hydrogen supply is another hurdle; we’re advocating for steel production to be a primary user of planned hydrogen hubs. Finally, coordinating diverse stakeholders across the supply chain is complex but essential. Despite these obstacles, we’re making progress in this ambitious transition.
Jenson Vliss: Are there other stakeholders in the supply chain who could support decarbonization?
Jon Gordon: Decarbonizing steel requires addressing the entire supply chain: from cleaner mining equipment to green steel facilities powered by hydrogen and electricity, and clean transportation and fabrication processes. The Race to Green Steel campaign (racetogreensteel.org) is connecting stakeholders across this chain. We are seeing some great leadership from companies like California Metals, who are really thinking ahead about what sustainable and affordable steel supply chains of the future will look like. Through your partnership network, consumers of steel (and other high-strength metals) can immediately work with you to switch to low-carbon metals, lowering the CO2e in their supply chain. While we’re in the early stages, the technology exists; now it’s about scaling up and coordinating industry-wide efforts.
Jenson Vliss: That’s really comprehensive, Jon. Thank you for sharing all of this information with us.
Jon Gordon: It’s my pleasure, Jenson. Thank you for your interest in these crucial topics.
