Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 8969INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS To the Mayor and Members of the City Council } SUBJECT: Green Cement iTs No. 8969 August 5, 2008 Page 1 of 2 On October 2, 2007, the Fort Worth City Council adopted Resolution 3536 authorizing the City Manager to specify the purchase of Green Cement. For the purposes of the resolution, green cement was defined as cement that was manufactured via a "Dry Kiln" process. By adoption of the resolution, all base bids on all cement related projects must specify dry kiln cement and also include an alternate bid for cement from an unspecified source. Dry kiln cement produced at a plant with an emission rate of 1.7 pounds of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) per ton or less per ton of clinker would receive preference within the bid consideration process. On July 8, 2008, Fort Worth City Council received Informal Report 8956 as an update on the effects of this purchasing policy on the industry as well as inform council about improvements Ash Grove Cement company has made to their operations and staff s intent to reward them for this effort. This IR has been prepared to help clarify issues associated with the purchase of green cement, Ash Grove's operations, and to answer specific questions of Council. Since the passage of Resolution 3536, Ash Grove Cement Company has invested in improving emissions from their operations and working with cities to get preferential treatment of their product in the bidding policy. Ash Grove has completed the installation of Selective Non - Catalytic Reduction (SNCR) technology on their kilns preventing the release of approximately one ton of NOx emissions from the atmosphere each day of operation. Even with this improvement, the Ash Grove kilns do not meet the emission rates of dry kiln. Approximately 80% of all the cement currently produced in North Texas is the results from the dry kiln process (TXI Kiln #5 and Holcim). The remainder of the cement in North Texas is produced in wet process kilns operated by Ash Grove and TXI. Prior to Ash Grove's installation of SNCR, it was believed that, in general, wet kiln emissions were greater that of a dry kiln, adding over 600 tons of NOx to the airshed annually over what emissions would be if kilns operated at the level of a dry kiln. While SNCR technology does not improve Ash Grove's emissions to those of green suppliers, it does reduce their NOx contributions by approximately 350 tons annually. NOx is the limiting factor to which the formation of ozone is dependant. To reduce the amount of ozone produced in the North Texas Area, the EPA, TCEQ and local cities have enacted programs designed to reduce and eliminate NOx emissions. As part of this process, cities need the ability to recognize the efforts of those who have improved their operations as well as those who have met the challenge. Resohrtion 3536 recognized the emission reductions of dry kiln operations. Staff recommends that council consider a resolution that will recognize Ash Grove's effirts to reduce emissions and set them as a preferred alternate when green cement is not available. As all cement manufacturers, both wet and dry type kilns, continue to improve their operations this policy will be managed to provide incentives for further investments to achieve those goals. The resolution will be finalized, with any additional comments from Council Members, and presented for council consideration at a later date. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS No- NORTH TEXAS KILNS WHEREAS, - City of , Worth , , , l leader in environmental :.a ■,, promoting better air quality and is recognized for » efforts; and $» , -�� :$ ■��® .� »,. . ■. �„ .� �-� ■� °® um y. ..f, �. . . . . . er" or M . * "I WHEREAS, this activity has resulted in a one ton per day, aggregate, reduction in NOx emissions from their Ellis County kilns; and WHEREAS, Ash Grove Cement Company has had these reductions certified by an independent third party testing agency:. and WHEREAS, the leadership of Ash Grove Cement Company has committed to operating this technology through this and future ozone seasons; and WHEREAS, the City of Fort Worth believes that efforts to reduce emissions should be recognized; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS: That the City Manager is hereby authorized to specify the purchase of cement from Ash Grove Cement Company in Ellis County, TX as a preferred alternate when green cement is not available for purchase pursuant to Resolution 3536 ADOPTED i ay of Fi.Vid-1--jus I IN, Pralk"21 f1 r, re =on= CrIPT or rem V"*"