In testimony before the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Portland Cement Association Chairman and Titan America CEO Aris Papadopoulos appealed for replacement of onerous regulations covering cement production with policies that promote job growth, investment certainty and responsible environmental stewardship. Subcommittee on Energy and Power Chair Ed Whitfield (R-KY) called to assess the impact of recent Environmental Protection Agency rulemakings on cement plants, boilers and utilities.
Citing how new regulations create neither economic nor environmental gains, Papadopolous observed, “The net result is industry will be forced to shut down plants. When market demand for cement returns, it will be met by cement imported from other countries, causing a loss of more U.S. industry jobs and a net increase in pollutants from cement production in countries that have little to no regulation … Dependence on foreign cement follows the road of dependence on foreign energy. This could hurt the entire construction economy.”
Papadopolous referenced Massachusetts Institute of Technology research that confirms leading roles cement and concrete can play in mitigating environmental challenges, adding, “Congress can create a climate that encourages domestic production of cement—consistent with MIT research findings—by taking immediate action to address onerous regulations and place a near-term moratorium on more rules.”
