PCA 2022 Energy and Environment Awards announced

Winners of the Portland Cement Association's 2022 Energy and Environment Awards to recognise outstanding environmental and community relations have been announced. Submissions from plants across the US were evaluated and recognised for environmental efforts completed in 2021. The winners include St Marys Cement's Charlevoix plant, Giant Cement, Buzzi Unicem's Chattanooga facility, CEMEX Balcones plant and CalPortland’s Oro Grande unit.

St Marys Cement’s Charlevoix plant eliminated bottlenecks as well as causes of lower performance allowing the plant to maximise productivity and efficiency. The plant conducted a benchmark study and took steps to improve energy efficiency and held a “Power Treasure Hunt,” which led to a 7.4 per cent  reduction in power consumption. The plant also commissioned a new alternative fuel injection system, which is expected to result in a 10 per cent reduction in CO₂ emissions in the next three years. 

In 2021 Giant Cement Co constructed a new 6in pipe to carry natural gas to an existing calciner burner and started firing natural gas in the calciner combustion chamber located within the preheater tower in addition to using natural gas in the main burner. Giant replaced approximately 25,000t of coal with natural gas in its kiln system and reduced CO₂ emissions by an estimated 26,000t. Giant estimates that the fuel change will help the facility achieve around 87 per cent of its 2030 CO₂ goals by 2025.

Buzzi Unicem USA’s Chattanooga plant has reclaimed an inactive clay mine, turning it into a 23-acre lake known as the Clayfield Lake. In 2021, the plant finished implementing a fish management plan designed to improve species diversity and overall fish health. 

CEMEX Balcones operations contributed more than US$90,000 in community donations and sponsorships, logged more than 200h volunteering at over 30 external community events, and hosted two in-person events at the facility. The Balcones plant hosted over 115 attendees from all over the world as part of “Quarry Academy,” showcasing industry best practices and providing essential learning opportunities that will improve workforce capabilities for the entire industry. For the third consecutive year, CEMEX was named to the Texan by Nature 20, for its conservation efforts in Texas.

CalPortland’s Oro Grande cement plant is within the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District (MDAQMD). In 2017 CalPortland commissioned 118 new “Near-Zero Emission” compressed natural gas (CNG)/renewable natural gas (RNG) concrete mixer trucks, and replaced and increased their cement bulk hauler truck fleet for a total of 24 new “Near-Zero Emission” CNG/RNG powered trucks. The fleet is fuelled by Redeem by Clean Energy^® at the RNG fuelling hub at CalPortland’s Oro Grande Cement plant, which was completed in 2021.