Thirteen of the 95 plants earning certification in the 2020 Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star manufacturing category produce portland cement: Argos USA LLC, Calera, Ala. and Harleyville, S.C.; Ash Grove Cement, Seattle; Buzzi Unicem USA, Festus, Mo. and Chattanooga, Tenn.; CalPortland Co., Rillito, Ariz.; Cemex USA, Miami; Drake Cement, Paulden, Ariz.; GCC of America, Pueblo, Colo. and Rapid City, S.D.;…
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The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association is part of a broad coalition of building and construction materials associations, civil engineering and environmental advocacy interests, codes and standards organizations, and insurance underwriters that are supporting the reintroduction of legislation aimed at securing a tax credit to foster the construction of resilient residential and commercial buildings. The Disasters Savings and Resilient Construction…
Read MoreA California Nevada Cement Association (CNCA) roadmap envisions three major pathways for the industry to attain net zero carbon operation by 2045: reducing production process emissions, reducing combustion emissions through fuel switching, and increasing distributed electricity generation. With 11.8 million metric tons’ clinker and 11.45 million metric tons’ grinding capacity in California (per USGS 2017 data), CNCA members can reach…
Read MoreA Middle East sister operation of New Jersey-based aggregate, asphalt and ready mixed producer Colas USA has agreed to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by delivering substandard concrete to U.S. Navy airfields in the Republic of Djibouti, nestled between Ethiopia and the strait linking the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Settlements with the Department of…
Read MoreThe Surety & Fidelity Association of America in Washington, D.C. cites Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Mike Rounds (R-SD), and Congressmen Stephen Lynch (D-MA) and Troy Balderson (R-OH) for their introduction of “Promoting Infrastructure by Protecting Our Subcontractors and Taxpayers Act.” The legislation provides essential protections for workers, suppliers and contractors by requiring payment backing on federally financed infrastructure…
Read MoreThe National Ready Mixed Concrete Association-chartered Build with Strength Coalition reports progress among its Los Angeles allies in promoting safe construction methods. Los Angeles City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez led the Public Safety Committee in advancing a motion that would ultimately enact an ordinance mandating fire life safety building practices. The action followed preliminary measures her colleagues initiated in 2019 and…
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A new International Code Council framework will assist governments and building industry stakeholders in meeting energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction goals. The Code Council Board of Directors, which consists of 18 government officials who were elected by their peers, adopted the framework, “Leading the Way to Energy Efficiency: A Path Forward on Energy and Sustainability to Confront a Changing…
Read MoreThe University of Washington-hosted Carbon Leadership Forum focused on an array of resources to support development of federal, state or local policies on embodied carbon in construction specifications and projects. Capping 2020 efforts earlier this year, it released the Embodied Carbon Policy Toolkit, offering public officials and industry professionals a carefully designed package to guide decarbonization efforts from Main Street…
Read MoreThe American Concrete Pavement Association has begun a search for the successor to President & CEO Gerald Voigt, P.E., who has decided to transition toward retirement, moving to a non-executive role once a new staff leader is appointed.
Read MoreMore U.S. states have adopted or advanced new energy-saving targets and vehicle or electric appliance rules, but Covid-19 slowed other efficiency efforts, according to the 2020 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). For the first time in four years, California took first place nationwide, followed by Massachusetts, Vermont, Rhode Island, New York, Maryland,…
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