In 2000, the Portland Cement Association (PCA) launched a program to foster continuous environmental improvement in the North American cement industry. One element of the program is to recognize individual facilities that exemplify the spirit of continuous environmental improvement and back up this spirit with action.

PCA and Cement Americas magazine presented the first cement industry environmental awards in 2002 to the winners for 2001. The awards program is open to any cement manufacturing plant in North America and honors activities conducted during the previous calendar year (in this case, January to December 2006).

The judges selected first place winners (and in most cases, runners-up and finalists) in each of the contest's six categories: Environmental Performance; Land Stewardship; Outreach; Innovation; Energy Efficiency; and Overall Environmental Excellence. Winners this year are located all over the United States and Canada.

Serving as judges for the 2005 Energy & Environment Awards were: Tom Carter, Staff Vice President-Environment, Health and Safety, PCA; Angela Burton, Vice President, Industry and Public Affairs, Cement Association of Canada; Deidra Ciriello, Director, Environment and Energy Policy, PCA; Elizabeth Dutrow, Director, Industrial Sector Partnerships, EPA, Energy Star Program; Ed Fendley, Office of Global Change, U.S. Department of State; Thomas Harman, Managing Director of Regulatory Affairs, National Ready Mixed Concrete Association; Carl Koch, Jr., Cement Sector Liaison, EPA; Becky Morris, Director-Environment, Safety and Health, National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association; Bella Tonkonogy, EPA, Climate Leaders Program; and Steven Prokopy, Editor, Cement Americas magazine.

OVERALL ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE

Winner
St. Marys Cement Inc. (U.S.),
Charlevoix, Mich., Plant

Honored as the runner-up in the land stewardship and outreach categories, the St. Marys Charlevoix operation demonstrates excellence in several aspects of environmental responsibility. In 2006, the plant installed a new indirect firing system that reduced both fuel consumption and emissions. The plant also replaced power plant fly ash with on-site shale, overburden, and purchased bottom ash to reduce mercury emissions. Close to a residential area, the facility conducted a noise study that lead to the design and installation of silencers resulting in less noise for the surrounding community. Working with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, St Marys maintained a fish-stocking program for the Chinook salmon fingerlings and worked to encourage the regional resurgence of the bald eagle by constructing nesting platforms on its property. In 2006, the plant launched a local newsletter to inform the local community about environmental projects at the plant.

Runner Up:
Lafarge North America Inc.,
Sugar Creek, Mo., Plant

Finalists:
Cemex,
Davenport, Calif., Plant

Suwannee American Cement,
Branford, Fla., Plant

ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE

Winner
St. Marys Cement Inc. (Canada),
Bowmanville, Ontario, Plant

The Bowmanville facility instituted a state-of-the-art environmental management system and achieved impressive reductions in emissions during 2006. A lime injection system reduced sulfur dioxide emissions 53% compared to the previous year. The lime reacts with the SO2 to form calcium sulfate that remains solid, therefore producing no additional waste stream. Installation of a selective non-catalytic reduction system utilizing ammonia injection reduced nitrogen oxide emissions 18%; the ammonia reacts with NOx to form water and nitrogen. The facility went far beyond regulatory requirements in achieving these reductions.

Runner Up:
Suwannee American Cement,
Branford, Fla., Plant

Finalist:
Holcim (US) Inc.,
Theodore, Ala., Plant

LAND STEWARDSHIP

Winner
Cemex, Davenport, Calif., Plant

Cemex in Davenport, Calif., won the Land Stewardship Award, which recognizes efforts to protect and enhance the surrounding land. The Davenport plant reclaimed 16 acres of its quarry with native habitat. The plant also conducts a sustainable forestry management program that annually plants 20,000 redwood seedlings. In 2006, a portion of the timber harvest was allocated to community and conservation projects. The property also provides special habitat for a variety of wildlife and is home to several endangered and threatened species.

Runner Up:
St. Marys Cement Inc. (U.S.),
Charlevoix, Mich., Plant

St. Marys Cement Inc. (Canada),
Bowmanville, Ontario, Plant

Finalist:
Lafarge North America Inc.,
Ravena, N.Y., Plant

OUTREACH

Winner
Holcim (U.S.) Inc.,
Theodore, Ala., Plant

This facility worked in 2006 to make its community a cleaner place to live and work. Employees volunteered in the annual household hazardous waste recycling day and an event to dispose of electronic equipment in an environmentally sound manner. The plant also participated in a clean up of the Mobile Bay and its surrounding waterways. As part of the Nineteenth Annual Alabama Coastal Cleanup Day — a worldwide event during which volunteers remove trash and debris from coastal waters — Theodore employees organized an event for the Theodore Industrial Canal, where volunteers removed 3,000 lbs. of debris.

Runner Up:
St. Marys Cement Inc. (U.S.),
Charlevoix, Mich., Plant

Lafarge North America Inc.,
Ravena, N.Y., Plant

Finalists:
Cemex, Davenport, Calif., Plant

Holcim (U.S.) Inc.,
Morgan, Utah, (Devil's Slide) Plant

INNOVATION

Winner
Cemex, Knoxville, Tenn., Plant

The Cemex plant in Knoxville won the Innovation Award, which recognizes industry leaders in the development and application of innovation technologies and techniques relevant to environmental protection or energy efficiency. Long an innovator in the development of technologies to reduce emissions, the plant identified the residue of oily water from oil collection centers as a source for its water injection treatment to reduce NOx emissions. In 2006, the plant used more than 260,000 gallons of oily water in the kiln at varying injection rates, saving the need to send the material to a publicly owned treatment works. The water-injection system annually reduces NOx emissions about 15%.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Winner
California Portland Cement Co.,
Mojave, Calif., Plant

This facility is the first repeat winner in the same category in the six-year history of the awards. Despite the high bar the plant set in 2005, it continued to improve. California Portland reduced its greenhouse gas emissions in 2006 by 31,247 metric tons over 2005. In an effort to improve efficiency and reduce emissions, the company signed a 25-year contract with a wind energy company that ensures a large portion of the power consumed at the plant will be from a renewable energy source. California Portland demonstrated leadership in the promotion of energy efficiency by assuming the role of energy-efficiency ambassadors to the cement industry to encourage duplication of their efforts to save energy, emissions, and dollars. Examples of energy-saving focus areas include high efficiency process improvements, electrical and lighting systems, compressed air, mechanical systems and drives, plant operations, engineering, and maintenance, and public education.

Runner Up:
St. Marys Cement Inc. (Canada),
Bowmanville, Ontario, Plant

Finalist:
Lafarge North America Inc.,
Calera, Ala., Plant