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Clean Energy Act nays stack up in cement
plant-tied districts
Sources: Staff reports; U.S. House of
Representatives
Party interests aside, Rep. Joe Barton’s (R-TX) nay on American
Clean Energy and Security Act likely reflects certain constituents’
sensitivity to a “national energy tax.” His 6th Congressional
District encompasses Midlothian, where Ash Grove Texas, Holcim (US) Inc.
and TXI operations make up one of the country’s largest concentrations
of cement production capacity. To read the entire article, Click
Here.
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Cement-taxing Clean Energy Act faces stratospheric
Senate climb
Sources: Staff reports; Portland Cement
Association
Critics of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, which
passed the U.S. House and foreshadows steep future taxes ($10-$37/ton,
2020-2050) on portland cement and other products of energy-intensive
processing, guarantee a rough ride for the legislation in the Senate
later this year. Authors Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Edward Markey (D-MA)
outline an emissions-trading program--dubbed cap and trade--geared to
sharply reduce the volume of carbon dioxide and other so-called
greenhouse gases generated in fossil fuel combustion. It would force
cement, steel and energy producers to purchase credits allowing
greenhouse gas emissions. Federal bureaucrats would gradually shrink the
country’s total emissions pool toward Waxman-Markey’s key
benchmarks, set against net U.S. emissions in 2005: 17 percent reduction
by 2020, 83 percent by 2050. To read the entire article, Click
Here.
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Report credits positive global climate impact to
cement companies’ CO2 reduction
Source: World Business Council for Sustainable
Development
Although cement production by companies participating in a 16-year
study increased 53 percent from 1990 to 2006, net carbon dioxide
emissions increased only 35 percent, proving a decoupling of production
and related emissions. These results were part of the recently released
WBCSD’s Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI) report, “Cement
Industry Energy and CO2 Performance: Getting the Numbers Right (GNR),”
representing the collective effort of 18 leading cement companies from
around the world. Perhaps even more encouraging, the study also found
that the net CO2/metric ton of clinker had dropped nearly 7.0 percent
from 1990 to 2006. To read the entire article, Click
Here.
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Salt River Group awarded workplace flexibility
award again
Source: Salt River Materials Group
The SRMG corporate office has been named a winner of the 2009 Alfred
P. Sloan Award for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility,
distinguishing the employer as a leading practitioner of workplace
flexibility and effectiveness in Arizona and across the nation. The
company was recognized at an event held at the Crowne Plaza San Marcos
Golf Resort – Pavilion in mid-June. To read the entire article, Click
Here.
The ALL-NEW 2009 North American Cement Directory is
currently available for pre-ordering exclusively from Cement
Americas. Order your fully updated new edition today!
Also available for pre-ordering is the fully revised companion 2009
U.S. and Canadian Portland Cement Map.
Both can be purchased from the Cement Americas Book Department:
Phone: (+1) 888-254-4552 or (+1) 913-967-1719
On the web
e-mail: bookorders@penton.com
Also, for information about advertising in the 2010 North American
Cement Directory, please contact David Pistello at (+1) 312-840-8471
or e-mail: david.pistello@penton.com
Item ID: MCNACD09
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Deficient roads, highway fatalities study released
as reauthorization talks heat up
Source: Transportation Construction Coalition; National
Stone, Sand & Gravel Association
At the brink of SAFETEA-LU reauthorization, a TCC highway safety
study finds that half of U.S. highway fatalities are related to
deficient roadway conditions. Unsafe road conditions are a more lethal
factor than drunk driving, speeding or not using safety belts, according
to the report, On a Crash Course: The Dangers and Health Costs of
Deficient Roadways. To read the entire article, Click
Here.
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Ambitious $450 billion highway bill may hit
speed bump
Source: National Stone, Sand & Gravel
Association
At a June 18 Capitol Hill news conference, the Democratic and
Republican leaders of the House Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure released their blueprint for the next surface
transportation authorization bill. Almost immediately, NSSGA leaders
hailed Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.) for unveiling the
six-year, $450-billion “Surface Transportation Authorization Act of
2009.” Details of the act were released in a 100-page report outlining
policy and procedural reforms that will be included in the bill now
being drafted. To read the entire article, Click
Here.
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Cement Totals--April 2009
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Total shipments of portland and blended cement in the United States
and Puerto Rico were about 6.0 million mt in April 2009, according to
the U.S. Geological Survey. This was almost 32 percent lower compared
with shipments for April 2008. Year-to-date 2009 shipments were 20.3
million mt, down almost 29 percent from the same period in 2008. To read
the entire article, Click
Here.
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Image
Analysis Software
Cilas Particle Size
This company announces its ExpertShape image analysis software for
all of the company’s particle size analyzers. The firm is said to
offer the only particle size analyzer incorporating both laser particle
size analysis and particle shape in a single instrument. Shape
parameters--such as aspect ratio, perimeter, area, and shape factor--can
be measured with the imaging system. An integrated liquid and dry
dispersion system allows the users to switch between dispersion modes
without having to switch hardware or realign the system. Optical
components are permanently mounted on a cast-iron base plate to ensure
the system is in alignment at all times.
www.particle-size.com
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Coming Up In Cement Americas
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2009 IEEE-IAS/PCA Cement Industry Technical
Conference
May/June 2009 Cement Americas
Approximately 1,000-plus attendees are expected to gather in Palm
Springs, Calif., for the 51st IEEE-IAS/PCA Cement Industry Conference,
May 31-June 4. We provide an overview of the show, the plant tour, and
profiles of companies exhibiting at this year’s event. To read the
entire article, Click
Here.
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Lehigh
finds meters that pay
May/June 2009 Cement Americas
Lehigh Inland of Edmonton, Canada, relies on Schenck Process
weighing and feeding systems to maintain a consistent feed to its kiln
and to meter fly ash into its finish grinding mill. To read the entire
article, Click
Here.
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Welcome to CEMENT NEWSLINE, the electronic
newsletter from Cement Americas. Submissions for
upcoming issues of CEMENT NEWSLINE or Cement Americas should be
directed to: Steven Prokopy, Editor, steven.prokopy@penton.com,
312-840-8442 |
