U.S. cement industry leaders are on Capitol Hill this week to meet with members of Congress and their staff to discuss progress with decarbonization efforts, challenges with the permitting process and more stringent emission standards recently finalized by the Biden Administration.
The meetings are part of the Portland Cement Association’s (PCA) Annual Cement Fly-in for its member companies.
The association is at the beginning of a five-year focus on alternative fuels, lower-carbon cements, and carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) – all critical levers for near and long-term emissions reductions. PCA views the government as an important partner in its companies’ efforts to decarbonize the industry.
“There’s a lot happening in Washington this year that directly impacts America’s cement manufacturers, which is likely why we have a record turnout of cement company leadership in town for this fly-in,” said PCA President and CEO Mike Ireland.
“Our industry’s top objective is to reach carbon neutrality. And while our companies appreciate recent funding from the DOE to assist in decarbonization efforts, it’s still challenging for them to make significant advancements due to a cumbersome permitting system and unrealistic EPA regulations that could lead to eventual cuts in plant operations and staffing. And now, just as the infrastructure law is hitting its stride, the country needs more cement and concrete, not less.
“We’re here to ask Congress to work with us to arrive at reasonable policies and standards that will allow manufacturers to continue to provide the resilient, sustainable building materials our country has come to expect,” Ireland concluded.
