100 Year Old Plant Receives Recognition for Habitat Protection
HOUSTON — CEMEX USA’s Victorville Cement Plant, a Southern California staple that has recently celebrated its 100th anniversary and has over that time supplied cement for iconic projects like the Hoover Dam and Hollywood Blvd, received Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) Conservation Certification for its ongoing sustainability, environmental protection and land stewardship efforts.
WHC presented the Victorville plant with the certification November 3rd during a ceremony at the 2016 WHC Conservation Conference in Baltimore. The designation means all CEMEX USA’s cement plants in the United States are now WHC certified. WHC focuses on healthy ecosystems and connected communities. CEMEX now has 18 WHC certified sites in North America. Fifteen are in the U.S.
CEMEX’s WHC Conservation Certification programs are mainly focused on habitat restoration and sustainability. In 2013, two wind turbines were commissioned at the Victorville plant generating electricity that can power more than 500 homes. The plant earned its fifth ENERGY STAR certification this year for reducing its energy use and environmental impact. The Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District awarded CEMEX USA’s Victorville plant operation the 2015/2016 Exemplar Award, the district’s highest honor for reducing carbon footprints, to recognize these efforts.
The Victorville Cement Plant was established in 1916 and underwent extensive expansions in 1997 and 2001. Today, it has the capacity to produce more than three million tons of cement annually to provide the building blocks for schools, roadways and homes across California, Nevada and Arizona.
In September, nearly 200 current and former plant employees, their families, community leaders, customers, CEMEX executives and friends, celebrated the 100th anniversary at the Victorville plant, marking the milestone with award presentations and memorabilia exhibits. CEMEX even buried a time capsule that will be unearthed by future generations.
“This plant has persevered through good times and bad: Two world wars, three different owners and countless upgrades to its facilities and equipment. And yet, through all of the changes, two things have remained constant: A commitment to safety and a commitment to producing a high quality product,” said Dr. Hugo Bolio, CEMEX USA’s executive vice president of Cement Operations and Technology.
“The Victorville Cement Plant is more than just a business. It is a family. None of this would have been possible without the people who’ve worked here over the past 100 years. CEMEX looks forward to celebrating the continued successes of our Victorville team over the next century,” CEMEX USA President Ignacio Madridejos said.
For more information, visit cemexusa.com .
