The Portland Cement Association (PCA) announced the winners of the 2018 Energy and Environment (E&E) Awards, recognizing outstanding environmental and community relations efforts. Submissions from plants across the United States were evaluated and recognized for environmental efforts completed in 2017.
“The awards underscore how America’s cement manufacturers are focused on producing the highest quality product with a minimal environmental footprint,” said PCA President and CEO Michael Ireland. “The companies selected for these environmental accolades demonstrate a strong culture of innovation that results in energy efficiency and sustainable manufacturing practices. They highlight that cement companies can be green while also making world-class cement products.”
Presented at the 2018 Cement and Concrete Fly-In event in Washington, D.C., the following plants were named 2018 E&E Award winners:
Innovation: Ash Grove Cement, Durkee, Ore.
The cement plant was recognized for its installation of the first known full-scale application of a carbon absorption system on a cement kiln for control of mercury. From installation in 2011 until 2017, Ash Grove has continued to make process and adsorbent changes to achieve the consistent level of 99 percent control necessary to achieve compliance with the Portland Cement National Emissions Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP).
Environmental Performance: LafargeHolcim, Holly Hill, S.C.
The cement plant is an industry leader in resource conservation with its practice of re-using, recycling, and co-processing recovered waste materials. The plant’s waste recovery and utilization efforts span the entire manufacturing process from alternative raw materials to cement additives to alternative fuel sources. Efforts to incorporate alternative materials have allowed the plant to expand its recycling capacity, make a meaningful impact on resource conservation and continue to produce a high-quality product.
Land Stewardship: Cemex USA/Kosmos Cement Co., Louisville, Ky.
The cement plant’s efforts to provide and preserve habitat for the monarch butterfly has resulted in recognition for land stewardship. In 2017, the facility planted a native seed mix on about an acre of designated habitat land to provide food sources for the monarch butterfly. As a result of these efforts, the facility was presented with Gold Certification from the Wildlife Habitat Council, signifying the highest level of habitat and species conservation projects.
Energy Efficiency: CalPortland, Oro Grande, Calif.
In 2017, the plant installed two vibrating screens to allow smaller-sized crushed rock to bypass the secondary crusher to improve crushing efficiency. The plant also made multiple process changes to the raw mill circuit to increase efficiency and reliability. The new ball mill circuit was designed with new state-of-the-art energy efficiency technologies, including the use of mechanical cement conveyance over pneumatic conveyance. The Oro Grande plant achieved Energy Star certification in 2017.
Outreach: Titan America/Roanoke Cement Co., Troutville, Va.
In 2017, RCC hosted on-site student conservation classes and sponsored stream cleanup events at Catawba Creek, which runs through the Troutville plant. Students collected stream data, such as sediment and nutrient information, to calculate a water quality value for the creek. The junior scientists will revisit the area and data will be archived to see how the water quality in the creek changes over time.
