Environmentalists and others want specifics on how such a hub would benefit historically polluted communities and help arrest climate change. The Department of Energy plans to help finance as many as 10 across the country.

By Grace van Deelen

Midwesterners know Lake Michigan for its crystal-clear water, distinctive sand dunes and stunning views. But the lake has a legacy of pollution, too: Steel mills, oil refineries and other heavy industrial facilities dot its southwestern shoreline from Chicago through Indiana to the Michigan border.