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The Great Lakes region remains the heartland of US steelmaking, but its primary production assets face a critical transition to avoid becoming noncompetitive as global demand for low-emissions steel grows. While federal legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) provides significant funding and tax credits (such as 45V and 45Q), the report finds a lack of coordinated state-level industrial strategies. The document argues that the region must prioritize the adoption of Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) pathways—specifically those using renewable hydrogen or carbon capture—to maintain high-quality jobs and reduce local air pollution. Key bottlenecks include grid interconnection delays for renewable energy, the need for Class VI primacy for carbon sequestration, and a lack of steel-specific workforce retraining programs.

The document argues that CCS costs remain persistently high due to design complexity and a high need for customization, which prevents the technology from achieving the experience rates and economies of scale seen in renewable energy. In Canada, actual project costs often exceed modelled estimates, and the technology's viability in the oil and gas sector relies heavily on ongoing government subsidies. While CCS may be useful for hard-to-decarbonize industries like cement, the brief suggests it is an inefficient use of public funds for the oil and gas sector compared to alternatives like methane reduction and electrification.

The document highlights the significant superhot rock geothermal resources in Svalbard, noting that just 1% of this resource could provide 97 GW of energy capacity. It argues that this technology offers a land-efficient, firm power alternative to fossil fuels and other renewables, potentially aiding Longyearbyen's goal of reaching zero emissions.

The U.S. electricity system relies heavily on freshwater, with cooling power plants accounting for 41 percent of all freshwater withdrawals. This dependence creates a 'collision' where energy production competes with municipal, agricultural, and ecosystem needs, a situation exacerbated by global warming. The report details regional risks—such as hydropower instability in the Northwest and cooling water shortages in the Southeast—and highlights low-water alternatives like wind, solar photovoltaic, and dry-cooling systems.