The California Senate approved a bill that seeks to slash the carbon footprint of state’s cement plants. The legislation directs the Air Resources Board (ARB) to develop a comprehensive strategy to achieve carbon neutrality in the cement industry no later than 2045 and to establish interim targets for reducing cement’s greenhouse gas intensity.
Senate Bill 596, which was introduced by Senator Josh Becker (D-13) – vice chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies, now moves to the Assembly where it will be heard in the Natural Resources committee.
The bill responds to both the near- and long-term abatement opportunities for California’s cement industry by directing the ARB to develop a glidepath out to 2045 with strong interim targets to demonstrate progress. This will allow for a robust dialogue with industry and other stakeholders to identify key market and regulatory barriers; evaluate a range of solutions across new and existing measures; and prioritize actions that meet essential criteria, such as enhancing California’s competitiveness, improving local air quality, and leveraging state and federal incentives to support economic and workforce development.
