2026 Energy & Environment Award Winners

CalPortland Company

Rillito Cement Plant – Rillito, AZ

The CalPortland Rillito Cement Plant’s strategic energy management process has led to investment in compressed air system improvements, kiln process baghouse modifications, and alternative fuel system upgrades. Combined, these efforts reduced electricity consumption, improved process efficiency, and increased the plant’s ability to use lower-carbon fuels.

The Rillito Plant recently retired a 40-year-old reverse-air baghouse and replaced it with a new pneumatic pulse baghouse, which reduced false air losses and lowered the electrical consumption by more than 1 million kWh annually.

The plant also made strides with alternative fuels, transitioning its existing fuel supply system designed for rubber tire chips to a process that handles locally sourced wood remnants from landscaping operations.

The wood fuel consumed last year reduced CO2 emissions by approximately 5,400 tons. During the first five months of this year, this same alt fuel had already cut carbon emissions by more than 7,100 tons.

Titan America

Titan Florida/Pennsuco Plant – Medley, FL

Titan Florida’s Pennsuco Plant made great strides in energy efficiency, environmental sustainability, alternative fuel use, and recycling efforts in 2025.

“Project T-Rex” was launched to consume waste streams from cement, concrete, and block and aggregate operations, and then convert the materials to marketable products.

In a related initiative, plant workers introduced “Dino Block” recycling operations — high-performance Bin-Block — crafted through concrete upcycling.

The Pennsuco team also reclaimed more than 20 acres of land previously occupied by legacy waste piles and returned it to functional plant operations.

Finally, this plant used AI technology to boost its alternative fuel use to an all-time high in 2025.

GCC

Dacotah Plant – Rapid City, SD

In 2025, the GCC Dakotah Plant replaced its Continuous Emissions Monitoring System, which measures Hydrochloric Acid (HCl) emissions, with a newer, more advanced Tunable Diode Laser monitor.

The old system involved extracting gas samples to measure HCl emissions and then transporting the samples to the monitor using heated tubing. This process typically led to inaccurate measurements due to HCl adsorption within the tubing.

The new monitor uses advanced laser absorption technology that allows for HCl emissions to be measured directly in the stack, eliminating the need for extracting gas samples. This process not only improves data accuracy, but it reduces system maintenance and downtime.

Titan America

Roanoke Cement Company – Troutville, VA

More than 25 years ago, Titan America’s Roanoke Plant dedicated a trail that crosses company property to make it easier for hikers to connect to a premier 2,200-mile hiking footpath.

Last year, while developing plans for a new limestone quarry, the team partnered with the long-established Trail Conservancy and local Trail Club to create a new trail route further from the plant, with a new pedestrian bridge for hikers to cross a sizable creek. Workers also built a new, larger parking lot, providing safe trailhead access at a location some distance from the cement plant. All initiatives were performed to enhance community and hiker safety.

The plant recently secured final regulatory approval for the limestone quarry, which is set to be completed in 2028. Workers anticipate mining the new quarry for about 15 years, ensuring a continuous supply of cement for vital infrastructure projects in the region.

Cemex USA

Victorville Cement Plant – Victorville, CA

Throughout 2025, Cemex’s Victorville Plant implemented a comprehensive outreach initiative focused on environmental stewardship, STEM education, workforce development, and long-term community partnership building. The effort connected employees, schools, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and residents through hands-on educational opportunities and sustainability projects.

Key initiatives included pollinator and fruit tree garden restoration projects, repurposing illegally dumped materials into garden infrastructure, youth STEM workshops focused on mining and cement manufacturing, career pathway field trips, and volunteer efforts supporting schools and public spaces.

CalPortland Company

Mojave Cement Plant – Mojave, CA

In April 2025, CalPortland’s Mojave Plant completed a transition to full natural gas operation following infrastructure upgrades to improve fuel reliability and cost. After successfully demonstrating that uncurtailed production operation using 100% natural gas was achievable, the facility continued to operate without routine use of solid fossil fuels for kiln operation.

As a result of this transition, the plant achieved a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in 2025 compared to historical operations, while maintaining complete production capacity. This project demonstrates that full natural gas operation is a viable near term pathway to emissions reduction at cement facilities.