The Lehigh Cement plant in Mason City, Iowa, welcomed Congressman Randy Feenstra (R-IA-04) on January 28 for a visit and plant tour. The Congressman and his district staff spent valuable time visiting with employees and learned a great deal about the role Lehigh Cement plays in the regional economy in the growing midwestern United States. 

Axel Conrads, President Midwest Region, Tom O’Neill, VP Cement Operations, Chad Hanson, Sales Manager and Jeremy Smith, Production Manager were all present to share key information with the Congressman about the long and rich history of the plant, as well as the exciting work being done to reduce the company’s CO2 footprint. The team shared information about opportunities to develop carbon capture technology for the cement industry, the significant progress with alternative fuels being used at the Mason City plant as well as the recent transition to shipping EcoCem®PLC as the primary product out of the plant.

EcoCem®PLC is a Portland Limestone Cement (PLC) produced using innovative technology to increase the amount of limestone and decrease the amount of clinker used. This reduces both the energy required to produce EcoCem®PLC and associated emissions, making EcoCem®PLC a greener alternative to ordinary portland cement. With a carbon footprint that is a much as 10% smaller than ordinary portland cement, EcoCem®PLC is helping to make more sustainable concrete in the markets served by the Lehigh Mason City plant.

Rep. Feenstra later tweeted his excitement on “working together to advance carbon capture technologies and keeping good paying jobs in District 4.”

“These are great opportunities to share how critical our products are to a growing and sustainable economy,” said David Perkins, Vice President of Government Affairs and Communications for Lehigh Hanson. “It’s very important to foster positive relationships with our elected officials, both to help them understand our business and for us to understand their priorities as leaders.”