Comments for Chris Amico: Journalist http://work.chrisamico.com Highlights of my professional work Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:19:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on Bay Area cement plants and global warming by Jim Schermbeck http://work.chrisamico.com/multimedia/bay-area-cement-plants-and-global-warming/comment-page-1/#comment-53 Jim Schermbeck Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:19:04 +0000 http://chrisamico.com/work/?p=138#comment-53 This is the best summary of what's going on in California vis a vis kilns and CO2 I've read, and I can say I've read a lot. Thanks for shedding light on an industry that often escapes scrutiny. I hope Senator Boxer follows suit, and specifically targets cement kilns in the national global warming legislation coming up. I don't believe it's much of a problem there in CA as of next year, but where I am in DFW, there are still seven ancient "wet kilns" doing business in the non-attainment area - as opposed to more modern "dry" kilns. The issue is NOx because of their contribution to the regional ozone pollution problem, and the wets produce 2X or more per ton of product. They also use 2x fuel per ton, meaning twice as much CO2 as well. Local governments have been passing "green cement" purchasing policies which effectively froze out the wet kilns. After a year and half of these policies, Ash Grove, the operator of the only local plant completely dependent on wet kilns sued the cities in federal court - including Dallas and Ft. Worth - the day before Thanksgiving. As far as I know, these have been the first "green cement" resolutions adopted in the US, and the first lawsuit filed over the issue. Ash Grove claims he cities are exceeding their authority in taking into account NOx emissions as part of their procurement process. This is the best summary of what’s going on in California vis a vis kilns and CO2 I’ve read, and I can say I’ve read a lot. Thanks for shedding light on an industry that often escapes scrutiny.

I hope Senator Boxer follows suit, and specifically targets cement kilns in the national global warming legislation coming up.

I don’t believe it’s much of a problem there in CA as of next year, but where I am in DFW, there are still seven ancient “wet kilns” doing business in the non-attainment area – as opposed to more modern “dry” kilns.

The issue is NOx because of their contribution to the regional ozone pollution problem, and the wets produce 2X or more per ton of product. They also use 2x fuel per ton, meaning twice as much CO2 as well. Local governments have been passing “green cement” purchasing policies which effectively froze out the wet kilns. After a year and half of these policies, Ash Grove, the operator of the only local plant completely dependent on wet kilns sued the cities in federal court – including Dallas and Ft. Worth – the day before Thanksgiving.

As far as I know, these have been the first “green cement” resolutions adopted in the US, and the first lawsuit filed over the issue. Ash Grove claims he cities are exceeding their authority in taking into account NOx emissions as part of their procurement process.

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