The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded the University of Minnesota's Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) over $8 million in grants to conduct research aimed at reducing energy demand and enhancing American industrial competitiveness. These grants, which are matched with funding from the university, state, and industry partners, signify a growing collaboration between NRRI and national laboratories. One of the funded projects, with a budget of $1.34 million, focuses on designing a green iron plant in Minnesota that utilizes hydrogen and fuel cell technology. This project seeks to assess the feasibility of constructing a hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (DRI) plant, with the potential to revolutionize iron production by replacing coal or natural gas with hydrogen. If successful, this initiative could pave the way for a low-carbon, secure domestic supply of iron for the U.S. steel industry while serving as a model for other carbon-intensive sectors. The University of Minnesota has prioritized this project and is seeking state funding to support research in green energy and iron production. Other projects funded by the grants include research on CO2-free carburized pig iron production, upgrading taconite ores to DR grade, and recovering high-grade iron oxide from mine tailings using sustainable methods. These initiatives aim to enhance energy efficiency, increase iron recovery efficiency, and reduce carbon emissions in the steel industry, contributing to a more sustainable future for ironmaking.