Backed by 16 major producers—nine with significant North American market stakes—the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Low Carbon Technology Partnerships initiative (LCTPi) outlined a Cement Action Plan aimed at reducing worldwide industry carbon emissions 20-25 percent by 2030. The announcement was made last month in Paris during the United Nations Climate Conference. Also known as (Conference of Parties) COP21, the event was staged with the aim of securing commitments from nearly 200 countries, whereby carbon dioxide emissions are cut to levels at which global temperatures climb no more than 2°C by 2100—a benchmark below the levels embodied in conference participants’ pledged plans.
Day: January 26, 2016
Council outlines green building square footage goals in the billions
With a United Nations Climate Change Conference/Buildings Day backdrop, the U.S. Green Building Council committed to scaling green buildings to more than 5 billion square feet over the next five years through the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) green building rating systems.
FAST highway bill tempers FMCSA regulatory burdens for mixer drivers
The FAST (Fixing America’s Surface Transportation) Act signed into law late last year contains language for which the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association lobbied on behalf of ready mixed concrete producers. Government Affairs staff helped secure within the five-year funding program three important provisions tied to Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) Hours of Service (HOS) regulations:
Road Builders: FAST stabilizes highway funding, bumps DOT purchasing power
An American Road & Transportation Builders Association analysis of the five-year, $305 billion Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST) signed into last month finds: “While the total core highway investment increase during the [five-year] life of the bill will be just over 15 percent, yearly assessments are a better gauge of market impact. Highway investment will jump 5.1 percent in FY 2016 and then slow to rates of growth between 2.1 percent and 2.4 percent for [FY 2017–2020]. Investment levels will exceed projected inflation by a total of $1.7 billion over five years and beat projected construction material cost increases by $1 billion over the same period. As a result, federal highway investment will see narrow increases in purchasing power through 2020, but the FAST Act’s biggest impact on the highway construction market will be the stability it provides states and the private sector.”
Cement Masons bargaining unit decision nets Baker Concrete unfinished business
A case rooted in one of the National Labor Relations Board’s most contentious decisions during the Obama administration could disrupt efficient work flows that help define one of the best known names in concrete structures and slabs, and alter longstanding recognition of craft units unique to construction.
Read MoreU.S. Concrete joins S&P SmallCap index, names energy-seasoned CFO
Sources: S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, New York; U.S. Concrete Inc., Euless, Texas; CP staff
The financial services entity behind the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average indices has added ready mixed and aggregate producer U.S. Concrete to the S&P SmallCap 600, which tracks liquid, financially viable U.S. equities with market capitalization of $60 million to $4.5 billion.
Read MoreEagle Materials/American Gypsum chief Powers to succeed CEO Rowley
Sources: Eagle Materials Inc., Dallas; CP staff
Eagle Materials has announced the retirement of President and CEO Steve Rowley effective March 31. The cement, aggregate, ready mixed concrete and wallboard producer notes that his decision, stemming from post-surgery health matters, brings “to a close a remarkable career of 25 years of continuous service to the company and its stockholders.”
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