EPA finalizes 2028 day cab, 2029 mixer, dump model emissions standards

Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; CP staff The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency claims avoidance of 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions and $13 billion in net annual benefits to society attributable to GHG Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles – Phase 3, a final rule released just ahead of the Easter holiday weekend. If they clear near-certain legal challenges, the…

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EPA proposes PCR/EPD criteria to back new construction materials labeling

Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; CP staff The Environmental Protection Agency invites comments through April 4 on “Criteria for Product Category Rules (PCRs) to Support the Label Program for Low Embodied Carbon Construction Materials.” Posted here, the 30-page document offers guidelines to improve PCRs by establishing consistent data quality and transparency requirements for Environmental Product Declarations (EPD). The proposed criteria…

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EPA invites comments on low carbon construction materials, product labeling

Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; CP staff The Environmental Protection Agency has opened to public comment a draft approach for implementing an Inflation Reduction Act-funded Label Program for Low Embodied Carbon Construction Materials. The $100 million undertaking will support the White House Buy Clean Initiative, applicable to Departments of Defense and Transportation and General Services Administration procurement, by helping define…

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CTS Cement helps EPA-backed Hydrova prove aluminum recycling

The Environmental Protection Agency recently announced a $400,000 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program Phase II grant enabling Santa Ana, Calif.-based Hydrova Inc. to advance work on black dross—a material frequently landfilled after primary aluminum recycling—for applications including cement clinker raw feed. Themed “Complete Resource Recovery and Hydrogen Production from Secondary Aluminum Processing Waste,” the grant extends a $100,000 Phase…

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EPA, Commerce, Energy, FHWA officials empower Carbon Neutral Summit

  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy, Federal Highway Administration and National Institute of Standards and Technology representatives offered and compiled takeaways as participants in the first Summit on Accelerating Carbon Neutral Concrete Materials and Technologies. NEU: An American Concrete Institute Center of Excellence for Carbon Neutral Concrete hosted the early-fall event to engage public and private construction stakeholders…

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Cummins X15H hydrogen engine enters Terex Advance specs

Terex Advance will integrate the Cummins X15H hydrogen internal combustion engine into its Commander Series front discharge mixer truck specifications as production of the diesel power alternative commences later this decade. “We are actively pursuing practical, cost-effective strategies to help customers decarbonize. The X15H is a feasible option for our trucks, and we are eagerly anticipating deployment of this technology,”…

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EPA opens $100 million grant program for construction material EPDs

Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; CP staff The Environmental Protection Agency is accepting through January 8 applications for grants under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)-funded Reducing Embodied Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Construction Materials and Products program. Budgeted at $100 million, it will support a) businesses that process or manufacture, remanufacture or refurbish construction materials or products in development and verification…

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Terex Advance moves first on Cummins X15H hydrogen engine spec

Sources: Cummins Inc., Columbus, Ind.; CP staff Terex Advance will integrate the Cummins X15H hydrogen internal combustion engine into its Commander Series front discharge mixer truck specifications as production of the diesel power alternative commences later this decade. “We are actively pursuing practical, cost-effective strategies to help customers decarbonize. The X15H is a feasible option for our trucks, and we…

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Cement, steel production emissions add up to EPA rounding errors

The Environmental Protection Agency’s new Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks cites 5.586 billion metric tons (mt) of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions for 2021, a 6 percent increase over the prior year. The Inventory spans six economic sectors; the third largest, Industry, accounted for 24 percent, or 1.34 billion mt of CO2e in 2021.  U.S. GREENHOUSE GAS…

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Cement plants over-represented in EPA Energy Star Industrial Program

The 86 facilities recognized in the Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star Industrial Program—10 cement plants in eight states among them—are credited with saving more than 100 trillion Btu of energy and preventing 6 million-plus metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2022. The cement and peer plants earned Energy Star certification for operating in the top 25 percent of energy…

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