Build With Strength Director, Sustainability Codes and Standards, Tiffany Reed-Villarreal, P.E., participated in NEU's Summit on Advancing Carbon-Neutral Concrete Materials and Technologies. The event featured attendees from prominent organizations such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Energy (DOE), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). During this significant gathering, federal agency representatives, NEU members and allied industry association representatives (seen here, with Ms. Reed-Villarreal sixth from right in front row) engaged in discussions about industry requirements, ongoing projects and collaborative efforts to achieve carbon neutrality across the cement-concrete value chain by 2050.
Addressing carbon emissions emerged as a central theme of the summit, alongside the focus on education spanning various sectors, including college students, architects, owners and contractors. One proposed solution involves developing a college curriculum tailored to equip individuals entering the industry with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and emerging innovative materials/technologies. NEU Summit attendees were afforded the opportunity to explore potential government support avenues through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Through discussions with federal agency representatives, members gained valuable insights into the ongoing initiatives of these agencies.
The Summit concluded with outlined goals aimed at assisting the concrete industry in comprehending and achieving reduced carbon emission targets.
For more information, contact Tiffany Reed-Villarreal at treedvillarreal@nrmca.org.
National Ready Mixed Concrete Association