Roanoke Cement Co. has been chosen by the U.S. Department of Energy to begin negotiating for an award of up to $61.7 million to support making cement using methods that reduce carbon emissions.
The DOE said the company’s Troutville plant will demonstrate its ability to manufacture cement incorporating widely available types of clay. Research has shown that using clay in cement-making can reduce the amount of heat required and the amount of carbon dioxide released from raw materials, both of which result in lower carbon emissions compared to traditional methods of production.
The project is one of 33 nationwide that the DOE selected for $6 billion in federal award negotiations across multiple “difficult-to-decarbonize” industries, including chemical refining, iron, glass and steel. The DOE noted that selection of the projects for negotiations is not a commitment to providing funding.
“We’re excited for this opportunity to lead this transformational project that will help advance the nation’s decarbonization goals, and we look forward to partnering closely with the Department of Energy and community stakeholders to ensure this project’s success,” Kevin Baird, president of the Mid-Atlantic business unit of Norfolk-based Titan America, of which Roanoke Cement Company is a subsidiary, said in a news release.
If finalized, the project would create approximately 25 permanent jobs and up to 115 construction jobs, according to the DOE.
Roanoke Cement is Botetourt County’s 12th-largest employer, with between 100 and 249 workers, according to the county’s 2023 financial report.
Titan America says the company is the only active cement plant in Virginia.
Titan America spokesperson Jennifer Aylor said in an email Monday that being chosen for negotiations “is a significant endorsement of Roanoke Cement Company (RCC) and Titan America’s products and capabilities as we continue to lead the nation in innovative and clean forms of cement.”
“The negotiation phase will allow the DOE and our team to thoroughly discuss and ultimately agree to the full scope of our proposed project before any funding is allocated,” Aylor said. “Upon successful completion of negotiations, it is anticipated that the project will occur over approximately six years with RCC deploying the new technology in 2028.”
The DOE said the 33 projects selected for funding negotiations could reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by more than 14 million metric tons, equivalent to the annual emissions of 3 million gas-powered cars.
It called the $6 billion in potential federal awards “the largest investment in industrial decarbonization in American history.”
“Many of the projects will deploy first-in-the-nation emissions-reducing technologies that have the potential for sector-wide adoption and transformation, multiplying the magnitude of the emissions cuts and supporting the future of U.S. manufacturing,” the DOE said.
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Virginia, said in a news release that the DOE choosing Roanoke Cement Company “aligns closely with federal goals for building a more sustainable future in heavy industry.”
“This funding will support good-paying jobs and is a testament to the capability and technical expertise we have in Virginia to help address some of our greatest energy and manufacturing challenges,” Warner said.