National Cement of California is pleased to announce the execution of a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, for the Lebec Net-Zero Project. The agreement secures funding for the previously announced award from DOE in March 2024.
Once completed, the Lebec Net-Zero Project, led by the National Cement Company of California, will produce carbon-neutral cement at National’s cement plant in Lebec, California. DOE is committing up to $500 million in matching funds for National Cement to develop the project. The project is one of 33 from across 20 states selected for award via DOE’s Industrial Demonstrations Program.
"This is an exciting, first-of-a-kind project in the cement industry. With this investment, we are expanding our manufacturing capacity of American-made cement, producing new innovative cement products, and creating new highly skilled jobs. We are thankful for the Department of Energy’s partnership to help accelerate innovation in cement manufacturing,” says Steve Wise, President of National Cement Company of California.
The project has three components:
- Substitutes clinker with a less carbon-intensive alternative (calcined clay) to produce limestone-calcined clay cement (LC3) which increases total cement output.
- Diversifies fuel sources, via locally sourced biomass from agricultural byproducts, such as pistachio shells, which enhances the local energy economy.
- Capturing and sequestering the plant’s remaining approximately 950,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide each year.
The project will bring significant economic development benefits. It is anticipated to bring hundreds of construction jobs, and at least 20 new jobs dedicated to plant operations. Further, the project aligns with Kern County’s Carbon Management vision for attracting new investment and diversifying the local economy.
The project has received strong support from environmental organizations, who recognize that the cement industry requires multiple levers, including carbon capture, to reach carbon neutrality.
National Cement is partnering with the Kern Community College District and other local organizations to establish a robust community engagement process, beginning in Phase 1.
Initial activity in Phase 1 will last through Q1 2026 and include a technology study, a Pre Front End Engineering and Design (Pre-FEED) study, and establishing a Community Advisory Body.
About National Cement
National Cement Company is a producer of cement and concrete which are essential materials for the built environment and support economic growth of all kinds. National has cement plants at Lebec, California and Ragland, Alabama, cement distribution terminals in Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee, and over 60 ready-mix concrete plants across California, Georgia, and Alabama. National’s strategically located network of production and distribution facilities ensures that it can meet the diverse needs of its customers. The company strives to minimize its environmental footprint through efficient and advanced production methods.
National Cement of California has owned the Lebec cement plant in Kern County since 1987. National has over 150 employees in Kern County and over 700 employees across the state. National ships cement to its ready-mix subsidiaries and other ready-mix customers in the San Joaquin Valley, from Bakersfield to Merced to the north, and in Los Angeles and Orange counties to the south.
