2
It is pertinent to note that, while the path to decar-
bonization in the United States presents significant hurdles,
it is clear that a combination of regulatory support, and
strategic investments can pave the way for a more sustain-
able cement industry, thereby contributing to global and
national climate goals. In this regard, decarbonizing the
cement industry will indeed require coordinated efforts at
both the state and federal levels in the United States. At the
federal level, recently, the U.S. Department of Energy is
investing in numerous projects aimed at demonstrating and
deploying decarbonization technologies, emphasizing the
need for a holistic approach that includes carbon capture
and storage or utilization (CCS/CCU), energy efficiency of
production processes, the use of alternative cement chem-
istries among others as noted in the U.S. Department of
Energy study mentioned earlier. Recent trends highlight a
marked increase in state level initiatives aimed at reducing
embodied carbon emissions within the construction indus-
try, with a growing emphasis on high-impact construction
materials such as cement and concrete (California State
Legislature,2021).
Analysis of the cement industry in the United States is
a topic of interest for many researchers, consumers, policy
makers and manufacturers, and it has been an active field
of research for the past two decades (Hanle et al., 2004
van Oss and Padovani,2003 van Oss and Padovani,2002).
Hanle et al. (2004) identified emission profile of the
cement industry based on bottom-up analysis of facility
level data. Unlike Hanle, however, van Oss and Padovani
(2003) and van Oss and Padovani (2002) focus on cement
chemistry, manufacturing technology, environmental chal-
lenges and opportunities. While these pioneering stud-
ies are useful for understanding the industry, they do not
reflect the advancement of the cement industry in the
United States. For example, there has been an acceleration
of adoption of environmentally friendly kiln technologies
over the past two decades. Furthermore, new innovations
like low-carbon electrochemical cement manufacturing
method, pioneered by Sublime Systems (2024), are driving
the industry toward a more sustainable future. Thus, there
remains a critical gap in studies that comprehensively assess
the U.S. cement industry’s technological development
and the ongoing decarbonization efforts. Existing studies
lack analysis on how newer technologies impact emissions
intensity, energy use, and overall carbon footprint in the
context of domestic and global carbon budgets. Addressing
this research gap could provide a clearer pathway for the
sector to meet ambitious climate targets, allowing industry
Figure 1. Clinker and cement manufacturing pathways
It is pertinent to note that, while the path to decar-
bonization in the United States presents significant hurdles,
it is clear that a combination of regulatory support, and
strategic investments can pave the way for a more sustain-
able cement industry, thereby contributing to global and
national climate goals. In this regard, decarbonizing the
cement industry will indeed require coordinated efforts at
both the state and federal levels in the United States. At the
federal level, recently, the U.S. Department of Energy is
investing in numerous projects aimed at demonstrating and
deploying decarbonization technologies, emphasizing the
need for a holistic approach that includes carbon capture
and storage or utilization (CCS/CCU), energy efficiency of
production processes, the use of alternative cement chem-
istries among others as noted in the U.S. Department of
Energy study mentioned earlier. Recent trends highlight a
marked increase in state level initiatives aimed at reducing
embodied carbon emissions within the construction indus-
try, with a growing emphasis on high-impact construction
materials such as cement and concrete (California State
Legislature,2021).
Analysis of the cement industry in the United States is
a topic of interest for many researchers, consumers, policy
makers and manufacturers, and it has been an active field
of research for the past two decades (Hanle et al., 2004
van Oss and Padovani,2003 van Oss and Padovani,2002).
Hanle et al. (2004) identified emission profile of the
cement industry based on bottom-up analysis of facility
level data. Unlike Hanle, however, van Oss and Padovani
(2003) and van Oss and Padovani (2002) focus on cement
chemistry, manufacturing technology, environmental chal-
lenges and opportunities. While these pioneering stud-
ies are useful for understanding the industry, they do not
reflect the advancement of the cement industry in the
United States. For example, there has been an acceleration
of adoption of environmentally friendly kiln technologies
over the past two decades. Furthermore, new innovations
like low-carbon electrochemical cement manufacturing
method, pioneered by Sublime Systems (2024), are driving
the industry toward a more sustainable future. Thus, there
remains a critical gap in studies that comprehensively assess
the U.S. cement industry’s technological development
and the ongoing decarbonization efforts. Existing studies
lack analysis on how newer technologies impact emissions
intensity, energy use, and overall carbon footprint in the
context of domestic and global carbon budgets. Addressing
this research gap could provide a clearer pathway for the
sector to meet ambitious climate targets, allowing industry
Figure 1. Clinker and cement manufacturing pathways