All 50 State Transportation Departments Approve Lower Carbon Cement

The Portland Cement Association announced that with the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s approval of portland-limestone cement, all 50 states and Washington, D.C. now accept a lower-carbon version of the construction material for their projects.

Developed with a higher limestone content, PLC offers the same efficacy level as traditional portland cement and a 10% smaller CO2 footprint, according to PCA. In 2023, the U.S.reduced its CO2 emittance by more than 4 million metric tons using PLC and other blended cement alternatives, the association said in a statement.

The 50 state landmark arrives at a crucial moment: State transportation departments are major cement consumers, and PCA said consumption will increase as the agencies use Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to rehabilitate roads, bridges and other infrastructure.

“This milestone is a huge step forward for sustainable American construction," Mike Ireland, president and CEO of PCA, said in a statement. Switching to portland-limestone cement promises to save millions of tons of CO2. Using a lower-emission product that meets all the performance requirements of traditional cement means the construction sector can build with durability, safety and sustainability in mind.”