CalPortland Colton Plant honored by Portland Cement Association for Energy Efficiency

April 27, 2010

Skokie, IL - The CalPortland Colton Plant was one of six cement plants that received special recognition for their commitment to improving the environment and their communities at the ninth annual Cement Industry Environment and Energy Awards, presented by Portland Cement Association (PCA) and Cement Americas magazine at PCA's Spring Meeting in Chicago on April 27.

The awards honor individual cement facilities that exemplify the spirit of continuous environmental improvement and support this spirit with action. These plants went beyond government regulations and local laws to ensure that their processes and policies contributed to making their communities better places to live and work.

"The United States cement industry is dedicated to producing a superior product while challenging manufacturing policies and procedures to improve energy efficiency. The companies also recognize their role in making their local communities better places," said Brian McCarthy, PCA president and CEO. "The actions taken by these plants and many others are at the fore-front of manufacturing technology and position the industry as a key contributor to the development of the latest energy expertise."

Energy Efficiency: CalPortland – Colton, Calif.

The CalPortland plant in Colton completed several unique energy reduction projects in 2009. The facility has a comprehensive intranet site that displays energy performance information in dollars, energy units, and specific energy. Several new installation upgrades lead to tremendous energy savings. New high efficiency separator, baghouse, and material handling equipment will save nearly 7 million kWh annually for finish cement grinding; the completion of a kiln air leak reduction program will save more 5.7 million kWh; and the installation of a new cement terminal is expected to save more than 3.7 million kWh. These and other initiatives resulted in the plant scoring a perfect 100 through ENERGY STAR's EPI benchmarking tool. In addition, Colton has also established national accounts with suppliers which include energy efficiency as part of their contracts.

History of the Awards
The awards program was created in 2000 by the Portland Cement Association as part of its renewed environment and energy strategic plan for the U.S. cement industry. The awards honor activities conducted during the previous calendar year, and the program is open to any cement manufacturing plant in North America. Judges for the 2010 awards represent independent groups such as National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, U.S. EPA-ENERGY STAR, U.S. EPA-Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation, Cement Association of Canada, Cement Americas, U.S. Geological Survey, World Resources Institute and World Wildlife Fund.

About PCA
Based in Skokie, Ill., the Portland Cement Association represents cement companies in the United States and Canada. It conducts market development, engineering, research, education, and public affairs programs. More information on PCA programs is available at www.cement.org.

About CalPortland Company
CalPortland Company is a major producer of cement, concrete and concrete products, aggregates and asphalt in the western United States. Founded in 1891 with the principle of providing unsurpassed quality, CalPortland remains a leader in the industry through its commitment to quality, customer service, technical support and environmental leadership. The company maintains its headquarters in Glendora, California and operates in six states in the Western U.S. and two Canadian Territories.
For more information about CalPortland Company, visit www.calportland.com or call 626-852-6200.