Revitalizing Weirton: The Story of a Steel Town’s Transformation
The heart of steel country used to sit in the northern tip of West Virginia, sandwiched between Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. Weirton Steel, once the largest taxpayer and employer in West Virginia, employed about 14,000 people at its peak in the 1950s and 1960s. However, last month, production came to an end as the last tin mill operating was idled.
But now, a new chapter is being written in Weirton as a battery plant is being built on the site of the now-shuttered steel mill. Form Energy, the company behind the new plant, is set to produce cutting-edge batteries that can store power generated by clean energy sources like solar and wind. This new development is bringing hope and excitement to the residents of Weirton, who have witnessed the decline of their once-booming steel industry.
The construction of the battery plant is made possible in part by incentives provided by President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. The legislation, aimed at creating new manufacturing jobs and speeding the transition to green energy, has accelerated the path to scale up and commercialize projects like the one in Weirton.
As Biden tours the country to tout his economic record while running for reelection, residents in this deeply Republican area don’t necessarily connect the new plant with his policies. In a community where flags supporting former President Donald Trump still fly outside many homes, the Biden campaign is not expecting to make significant inroads. However, the new battery plant is expected to bring at least 750 new jobs to Weirton, providing a sense of pride and hope for the future.
While the political landscape in Weirton remains divided, with some residents critical of Biden and others focused on immediate concerns like the cost of living, the opening of the new battery plant later this year will be a significant milestone for the community. Whether voters in places like Weirton begin to credit Biden for projects like this one remains to be seen as the election approaches.
