2018 Energy & Environment Award Winners
The 2018 Energy and Environment Awards recognize outstanding environmental and community relations efforts that go above and beyond what is required. Submissions from plants across the
U.S. were evaluated and recognized for environmental efforts completed in 2017.
The Durkee, Ore., cement plant is being recognized for its installation of the most advanced mercury control system known to exist at a cement plant. This was the first known full-scale application (worldwide) of a carbon absorption system of this type on a cement kiln for control of mercury. From installation in 2011 until 2017, Ash Grove has continued to make process and adsorbent changes to achieve the consistent level of 99 percent control necessary to achieve compliance with the Portland Cement National Emissions Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP).
The Holly Hill cement plant is an industry leader in resource conservation with its practice of re-using, recycling, and co-processing recovered waste materials. The plant’s waste recovery and utilization efforts span the entire manufacturing process from alternative raw materials, to cement additives, to alternative fuel sources. Efforts to incorporate alternative materials have allowed the plant to expand its recycling capacity, make a meaningful impact on resource conservation, and continue to produce a high-quality product.
The Louisville cement plant’s efforts to provide and preserve habitat for the monarch butterfly has resulted in recognition for land stewardship. In 2017, the CEMEX USA/Kosmos Louisville plant planted a native seed mix on about an acre of designated habitat land to provide food sources for the Monarch Butterfly. As a result of its efforts, the plant was presented with the Gold Certification from the Wildlife Habitat Council, signifying the highest level of habitat and species conservation projects.
The Oro Grande cement plant’s investments and innovative techniques are being recognized in the energy efficiency category. In 2017, the plant installed two vibrating screens to allow smaller-sized crushed rock to bypass the secondary crusher to improve crushing efficiency. The plant also made multiple process changes to the raw mill circuit to increase efficiency and reliability. The new ball mill circuit has been designed with new state-of-the-art energy efficiency technologies, including the use of mechanical cement conveyance over pneumatic conveyance. The Oro Grande plant achieved ENERGY STAR certification in 2017 and CalPortland has been recognized by the ENERGY STAR program for 14 years.
The Roanoke Cement Company (RCC) plant’s outstanding commitment to its community has earned recognition in the outreach category. In 2017, RCC showcased its campus initiatives by hosting on-site student conservation classes and sponsoring stream cleanup events at Catawba Creek, which runs through the Troutville plant. Students collected stream data, such as sediment and nutrient information. They learned about the science of soils, “Leave No Trace” (minimization of impact) principles, and the importance of trees for water quality. Back in the classroom, the junior scientists used their data to calculate a water quality value for the creek. They will revisit the area and data will be archived to see how the water quality in the creek changes over time.