SKOKIE, Ill. – On March 19, 2007, the CEMEX Inc., cement plant in Knoxville, Tenn., received the Innovation Award from the Portland Cement Association (PCA) and Cement Americas magazine as part of the 2006 Cement Industry Energy and Environment Awards. The award was presented at PCA’s Spring Meeting in La Jolla, Calif.

The Innovation Award recognizes cement industry leaders in the development and application of innovation technologies and techniques relevant to environmental protection or energy efficiency.

The CEMEX plant, long an innovator in the development of technologies to reduce emissions, identified the residue of oily water from oil collection centers as a source for its water injection treatment to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. The discarded oil normally comes from automotive shops and other businesses, but the CEMEX team has found a way to extract the water and use it successfully in the water injection technology, not only conserving water, but also helping to reduce waste products. In 2006, the plant used more than 260,000 gallons of oily water, saving the need to send the material to a publicly owned treatment works. The water-injection system annually reduces NOx emissions by approximately 15 percent.

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 a special honor was presented to plants demonstrating excellence in multiple categories.

“The cement industry is dedicated to producing a superior product while continuously challenging manufacturing policies and procedures to minimize our environmental footprint,” said Charlie T. Sunderland, PCA chair and CEO of Ash Grove Cement Company. “The awards program recognizes these ongoing efforts.”

An award presentation will take place in Knoxville later this spring.

History of the Awards
The awards program was created in 2000 by the Portland Cement Association as part of its renewed environment and energy strategic plan for the U.S. cement industry. PCA and Cement Americas magazine presented the first Cement Industry Environmental Awards in 2002 to the winners for 2001. 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 awards represent independent groups such as PCA, Cement Americas magazine, the Cement Association of Canada, World Resources Institute, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the World Wildlife Fund.

About PCA
Based in Skokie, Ill., the Portland Cement Association represents cement companies in the United States and Canada. It conducts market development, engineering, research, education, and public affairs programs.