SKOKIE, Ill. – On April 29, 2013, the CEMEX USA cement plant in Victorville, Calif., received the Energy Efficiency award from the Portland Cement Association (PCA) and Cement Americas magazine as part of the 2013 Cement Industry Energy and Environment Awards. The award was presented at PCA’s Spring Meeting in Chicago.
The Energy Efficiency award recognizes a plant’s energy planning, applications of efficiency technologies and practices, and climate change mitigation efforts.
The Victorville plant was also a runner up in the Outreach and Environmental Performance categories. The Environmental Performance award honors facilities that take steps beyond those contained in environmental laws, regulations and permits to minimize their impact on the environment. Outreach recognizes a plant’s efforts to enhance community, employee and government relations through innovative communications and programs.
The Victorville Plant is situated in the Mojave Desert, one of the most unique and environmentally sensitive areas in the U.S. with an average rainfall of 3 inches. CEMEX has made environmental performance, site beautification and environmental stewardship a high priority in its routine operation.
In 2012, CEMEX USA commissioned its first wind turbines in collaboration with Foundation Wind power, leading to the construction of four wind turbines at CEMEX Victorville. The turbines will generate a total of 6.2 megawatts of wind energy for the facility while advancing CEMEX’s sustainability goals through a reduction of carbon fuels. The turbines have helped the plant reduce its CO2 footprint by 5,953 tons of emissions. The year also saw the facility receiving the EPA’s prestigious ENERGY STAR® certification in recognition of the Victorville team’s outstanding energy management leadership.
In 2012, CEMEX Victorville replaced traditional fuels, like coal, with carbon neutral alternatives and renewable fuel sources, like agricultural byproducts (pistachios), clean woody biomass, whole tires and tire fluff, biosolids, used dust collector bags, and engineered fuel consisting primarily of nonrecyclable paper, plastic, and cardboard derived from household, industrial, commercial streams that would otherwise be sent to landfills. The plant reduced consumption of traditional fossil fuels and consumed 39,795 tonsof material tons of alternative fuel material, which would have been destined for disposal in a landfill.
CEMEX Victorville participates in numerous community events, including several for the Town of Apple Valley, such as participation in Community Clean-up days, participation in Chili Cook-Off Contest, and Rotary Club presentations on how cement is made.
“Finding ways to reduce both energy needs and reliance on fossil fuels is a top priority for cement companies,” said Greg Scott, PCA president/CEO. “By doing so, plants decrease emissions and the amount of raw materials used, while lowering operational costs and keeping the company a viable community employer.”
The Cement Industry Energy & Environmental Awards honor individual cement facilities that exemplify the spirit of continuous environmental improvement and support this spirit with action. These plants go beyond government regulations and local laws to ensure that their processes contributed to making their communities better places to live and work. Five categories are recognized: Outreach, Environmental Performance, Land Stewardship, Innovation, and Energy Efficiency. Additionally, PCA presents a special honor to a plant demonstrating excellence in multiple categories.
The award program was created in 2000 by the Portland Cement Association as part of its environment and energy strategic plan for the U.S. cement industry. The awards honor activities conducted during the previous calendar year, and the program is open to any cement manufacturing plant in North America. Judges for the 2013 awards Program included representatives from U.S. EPA-ENERGY STAR, Wildlife Habitat Council, U.S. Geological Survey, World Wildlife Fund, and Cement Americas.
About PCA
Based in Washington, D.C., with offices in Skokie, Ill., the Portland Cement Association represents cement companies in the United States. It conducts market development, engineering, research, education, and public affairs programs. More information on PCA programs is available at www.cement.org.
About CEMEX
CEMEX is a global building materials company that provides high quality products and reliable service to customers and communities in more than 50 countries throughout the world. CEMEX’s U.S. network includes 13 cement plants, 47 active cement distribution terminals, approximately 100 aggregate quarries and more than 420 ready-mix concrete plants. For more information, visit www.cemexusa.com.