Union leaders with United Steelworkers of America Local 1190 met with U.S Rep. Bill Johnson on Thursday to see if there's anything lawmakers can do to encourage development of the Mingo Junction plant.

"A steel plant requires affordable reliable energy. Where are you going to get that from if we're shutting down coal-fired power plants all over America?" said Johnson. "A big part of that is to get the regulators in Washington out of the way. Get the tax burden off the backs of companies so that they can afford to invest and grow."

The meeting came as Steelworkers hope Frontier Industrial Corp. will bring in an operator to restart the facility.

"We know that Frontier is probably looking for some help," said Ernie Gambellin, USW Local 1190 president. "We're here doing everything that we can do. I said it all along. The United Steelworkers will be a part of what we need to do to be profitable for the company and profitable for the people that work there."

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