The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced nearly $50 million in funding opportunities for cement, aggregate and concrete interests as part of an overall $160 million package for the Reducing Embodied Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Construction Materials and Products Program. “As America continues to build more and upgrade our nation’s infrastructure, cleaner construction materials like concrete and steel are increasingly essential for the nation’s prosperity,” says EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe. “[Agency] investments will expand market access for a new generation of more climate-friendly construction materials, and further grow American jobs that are paving the way to the clean energy economy.”
EPA committed $2.4 million to advance work boosting the number of facility-specific Environmental Product Declarations from Portland Cement Association, American Coal Ash Association, Natural Pozzolan Association and Slag Cement Association members. The project will entail PCA distributing up to $1.5 million in grants to eligible producers over the next five years. The association will also provide training and on-call technical assistance to guide portland or slag cement, fly ash and natural pozzolan producers from EPD development to verification to publishing of the final declaration. Additionally, PCA will help initiate and regularly update industry-average EPDs for cementitious materials.
The funding stems from the Inflation Reduction Act, passed in 2022 with the support of groups including PCA. “Getting EPA approval to move forward with this project is representative of our environmental efforts coming full circle,” notes PCA CEO Mike Ireland. “We’ll be communicating environmental impact data in a more detailed fashion throughout the industry, which should help us to hasten our pace toward carbon neutrality.”
NRMCA PROMOTION
The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association has secured a $9.63 million Reducing Embodied Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Construction Materials and Products Program grant, enabling the group and its Build With Strength team to further educate the architectural and engineering communities on designing and specifying low carbon concrete. EPA initiated the program in a nod to the federal government’s goal of reaching net zero emissions in procurement by the year 2050. Funding will empower U.S. companies to be competitive in landing federal or other institutional building contracts.
The NRMCA project includes a focus on smaller companies in remote areas, promoting geographic diversity in EPD development, and ensuring equitable workforce development by encouraging minority groups and women to become sustainability experts. Over a five-year project horizon, the association proposes to increase the quantity and robustness of ready mixed concrete Environmental Product Declarations by providing grants to producers to create EPDs from an additional 3,000 plants—up from the present 1,500-plant universe. NRMCA plans to provide data quality management oversight and training, as well as education for producers by developing additional EPD verifiers and certifying up to 500 EPD specialists through an online education system. It also aims to enhance its existing low-carbon concrete tool and host five low-carbon concrete training workshops per year through 2029. The group likewise seeks to improve Product Category Rules for concrete and data availability for critical inputs, including cementitious materials, aggregates and admixtures.
“NRMCA has worked over the past 12 years to move the industry toward widespread adoption of Environmental Product Declarations,” observes President Michael Philipps. “This grant is an investment in accelerating our efforts to move the industry toward low carbon concrete solutions.” The group will collaborate with various partners, including state ready mixed concrete associations, material suppliers, and academic entities such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he adds.
ACPA, NPCA, PCI PROJECT
EPA has also selected a joint National Precast Concrete Association, Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute and American Concrete Pipe Association project to receive a $9.975 million grant. One of 38 such efforts selected overall, the ACPA/NPCA/PCI project will focus on updating the precast concrete Product Category Rule and generating product-specific EPDs for building and nonbuilding structures, components or elements. It will entail developing an EPD generator and providing training and support to member producers in their declaration publishing efforts.
NPCA collaborated with PCI and ACPA to apply for the grant earlier this year. The result is a five-year project that will provide valuable resources to producers and allow the associations to defray the cost for their members to create or update their EPDs. “Precast concrete is essential to the nation’s infrastructure, making it critical that the industry is prepared to meet the requirements,” says NPCA CEO Nick Rhoad. “Together with PCI and ACPA, we will be able to provide resources that put our members at the forefront of the effort to create more sustainable concrete products.”
“The resources in this grant will allow us to create tools for generating EPDs that are specific to precast concrete and greatly accelerate our members’ ability to create them for their specific plants and products,” adds PCI CEO Bob Risser. “By combining efforts, we will gain efficiency and avoid duplication of efforts.”
AGGREGATE EPDS
In addition to cement and concrete projects, the EPA has awarded the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association a $9.65 million grant, which over the next five years will support group efforts to engage partners in creating, training and promoting resources. Key initiatives will include:
- Aggregates Industry PCR and EPD Program Operator: NSSGA will have full-time staff to administer the program, facilitating more robust updates and ensuring comprehensive oversight.
- Access to Digital Tools and Solutions: The association will provide the aggregates industry with robust tools to transparently report product environmental impacts.
- Comprehensive Training Programs: In collaboration with state associations, universities, and other partners, NSSGA will move to equip industry professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to implement sustainable practices, perform life cycle assessments and produce EPDs.
- Best Management Practices for CO2 Reduction and Sequestration: Establishing and promoting guidelines that help the industry reduce its carbon footprint and also enhance its ability to effectively sequester CO2.
“We look forward to working together to enhance the transparency and availability of environmental impact data within the aggregates industry,” affirms NSSGA CEO Michael Johnson. “The unwavering support from our members, industry partners and 23 state associations has been instrumental in securing this grant and will be crucial, as we move forward to accomplish the initiatives. This builds on our industry’s robust efforts to be a leader in the carbon solution, as we continually protect the environment and sustainably produce critically needed materials.”