SKOKIE, Ill. –The Portland Cement Association (PCA) and "Cement Americas" magazine acknowledged the Suwannee American cement plant in Branford, Fla., as part of the 2008 Cement Industry Energy & Environmental Awards, honoring sustainable manufacturing practices.

The plant received the dual honor of being a runner-up in the Innovation category that recognizes the development and application of innovation technologies and techniques relevant to environmental protection or energy efficiency as well as the Energy Efficiency category that honors a plant’s energy planning, applications of efficiency technologists and practices, and climate change mitigation efforts.

Since it began replacing coal with a high carbon fly ash, the Suwannee plant has been able to reduce coal consumption by 9.6 percent.  In order to not compromise the product, significant coordination between quality control and product is needed, as the materials chemical composition and fuel value are very unpredictable. Additionally, if not used in cement production, the fly ash would have been landfilled.  Suwannee prevented nearly 40,000 tons of fly ash from entering community landfills in 2007.

An U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR® partner in 2006, the plant earned an ENERGY STAR certificate in 2007.  Its annual energy savings were the equivalent to supplying enough energy to power 8,400 Florida households. Initiatives that contributed to this success included the replacement of coal with high carbon fly ash and reducing emission and energy consumption by replacing 3.9 percent of clinker with limestone.  An Energy Team that includes members from each department meets regularly to set energy targets and develop energy-saving initiatives. 

 “The cement industry is dedicated to producing a superior product while continuously challenging manufacturing policies and procedures to minimize our environmental footprint,” said Brian McCarthy, PCA president/CEO. “We are especially proud of those plants that were able to reduce their energy consumption through the use of new and innovative process.”

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.

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 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.