Lyons History

CEMEX’s Lyons Cement Plant was built in 1969, and since it was acquired by CEMEX in 2000, the facility has been recognized repeatedly for its environmental performance and community outreach accomplishments by organizations including Wildlife Habitat Council, Portland Cement Association, The National Association of Environmental Professionals and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. CEMEX has earned ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for four consecutive years, receiving the recognition of Energy Management in 2019 and then Sustained Excellence in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

The CEMEX Lyons Cement Plant maintains strong relationships with the town of Lyons and is proud to support local professional and educational institutions.

Increased Production of Lower Carbon Portland Limestone Cement

As part of its efforts to reduce CO₂ emissions, CEMEX has increased production of Portland limestone cement (PLC) at its plant in Lyons, CO. The environmentally friendly, lower carbon building material is expected to become the plant’s primary product by this summer. PLC can offer CO₂ emission reductions of up to 10% when compared to ordinary Portland cement (OPC). In PLC, finely-ground limestone replaces a portion of the clinker, cutting clinker factor by about 10% and reducing CO₂ intensity when compared to OPC.

Though PLC has been produced at Lyons cement plant for more than 15 years, CEMEX is ramping up production to better align with the company’s ambitious carbon reduction goals and meet increased demand for lower carbon materials. In addition to Lyons, CEMEX USA has also increased PLC production at its Brooksville, Fla., and Demopolis, Ala., cement plants, and plans to step up production or start manufacturing the eco-friendly product, at other U.S. cement plants in the coming months.

Just last year, CEMEX implemented its Future in Action program to reduce CO₂ throughout its value chain and announced updated climate goals. The aggressive targets include reducing the company’s CO₂ emissions by 40% by 2030 compared to 1990 baseline levels and working to deliver net-zero concrete globally by 2050. As part of its commitment to climate action, CEMEX joined carbon neutrality roadmaps from the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) and Portland Cement Association (PCA). CEMEX is also a founding member of the First Movers Coalition, an initiative that unites more than two dozen companies worldwide to spur innovation and the use of decarbonization technologies.

Commitment to the Community

CEMEX Committee

In the fall of 2021, the Lyons Plant, in coordination with the town of Lyons Board of Trustees, created the CEMEX Committee. This committee is composed of representatives from the Student Advisory Council, Ecology Board, Sustainable Futures Commission, Lyons Arts and Humanities Commission, community leaders and Left Hand Watershed Center. The purpose of the committee is to share updates from CEMEX on volunteer projects, environmental best practices and community engagement. The committee members provide news on town needs, happenings and share information with CEMEX for the benefit of all.

LEAF Donor of the Year

CEMEX Lyons was recognized by LEAF as the “Donor of the Year” for supporting the Lyons Emergency Assistance Fund in 2019. LEAF operates the Lyons Food Pantry and Meals on Wheels for local residents while also providing crisis management, housing assistance, financial counseling and childcare. The recognition stems from CEMEX’s yearlong commitment to LEAF. The Lyons plant held a donation drive of household items which culminated in the annual holiday Super Duper Donation Drive in December 2019. CEMEX employees delivered and helped distribute donations to community members at the food pantry. CEMEX also donated Thanksgiving turkeys and Christmas hams during the holiday season. LEAF instituted a new Mental Health Wellness and Addiction Recovery program in early 2019, and the Lyons plant was proud to increase their support of this new program.

The CEMEX Foundation also recently provided a $15,000 donation to LEAF that will allow the food pantry to open on Saturdays moving forward and double the number of residents it can provide with benefits. The donation will also help LEAF provide increased services for the homeless population, which grew during the COVID pandemic.

Volunteer Events

The Lyons Plant is proud to have participated in volunteer projects with Boulder Parks & Open Space by cleaning drains and performing maintenance at the Nighthawk Trail, Left Hand Watershed Center by donating willow trees for ecological restoration projects and installing erosion control fascines and at Cal Wood Education center by helping clear debris and plant grass seed in a wildfire burn area.

Upholding a strong tradition of volunteer stewardship, the Lyons plant is hosting and participating in several volunteer projects throughout 2022, including celebrating Earth Day by providing 50 trees to be planted by employees and planting trees at the Cal Wood Education Center in a wildfire recovery area. Further efforts throughout the year will focus on tree harvesting within plant grounds, tree planting, nature trail maintenance and watershed health. The plant has strong relationships with Left Hand Watershed Center and Boulder County Parks and Open Space volunteer programs.

Safer Roads Together

CEMEX USA promotes cycling and truck safety awareness via the Safer Roads Together program. The Lyons plant has participated in the program in both 2018 and 2019. The 2019 event was held within the town of Lyons and featured multiple day cycling races, culminating with criterium races featuring professional cyclists. Through Safer Roads Together, CEMEX aims to promote road safety between our trucks and the vibrant local cycling community. During the events, CEMEX provides a cement truck on-site where cyclists can sit in behind the wheel to better understand the driver’s perspective as part of efforts to improve road safety for all.

Community Partnerships

The Lyons plant is proud to seek shared value within our community and throughout Boulder County. We strengthen our community bonds by nurturing partnerships that focus upon education, health and wellness, safety, natural resource conservation, biodiversity, science, historical preservation, art and culture.

CEMEX booth at the 2019 inaugural Left Hand Watershed Days event. Donation of sandstone boulders for the Lyons Valley River Park Pond project with the Town of Lyons Parks and Public Works Students from the Lyons Middle School “Habitat” class join CEMEX employees and Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center staff for an installation of habitat boxes for squirrels on the Lyons plant grounds CEMEX is the title sponsor for the Lyons Elementary School “Jogathon”, promoting health and physical fitness and fundraising for critical educational activities and school supplies

Dedication to the Environment

Microforest

In the spring of 2021, the Lyons Plant installed an experimental forest composed of native trees, shrubs and pollinator flowers. The purpose of this forest is to increase biodiversity, pollinator habitat and carbon sequestration. Most of the site materials were gathered from within the plant grounds, using felled invasive trees for mulch, sandstone from Dowe Flats to delineate sections and tailings in the walking path. The Microforest also serves as an element of the plant’s environmental education program, welcoming students from the Lyons Middle School “Habitat” class each semester for planting and monitoring projects. CEMEX employees tend to the site and will help it develop every year with additions of new species to steadily grow diversity.

Before After

PCA Outreach Award

The Lyons plant received the 2019 Portland Cement Association Energy & Environment “Outreach” award within the Sustainable Manufacturing designation. The plant won the award due to various community engagement programs including nature and wildlife habitat conservation, cycling safety, environmental education, watershed sciences and flood recovery. The Lyons plant also supports the Lyons Community Foundation, local library, new skatepark, Lyons schools, Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, and Parks & Public Works department.

WHC Silver Certification

The Lyons plant was awarded Silver certification by the Wildlife Habitat Council in 2019 for its efforts that include creating and maintaining multiple pollinator gardens, native prairie restoration, instituting a robust environmental education program with participation from Lyons schools and implementing a comprehensive reclamation plan at our Dowe Flats quarry. The plant has been certified since 2010 and maintains that status to this day.

Emissions reductions

The Lyons plant has recorded vast improvements in emissions reductions. SO2 emissions have been reduced by 89%, NOX has been reduced by 86%, and particulate matter has been reduced by 66%, based upon data gathered in 2008 versus 2016-2018 readings. These numbers were calculated as part of a 10-year planning period and mandated by the Colora

Public Health and Environment under Regional Haze Review requirements. These significant reductions are well below standards and illustrate the commitment of the Lyons plant and CEMEX toward managing environmental impacts.

Dowe Flats Permit Extension

The Lyons plant gathers materials for the cement-making process at Dowe Flats quarry. Currently, the operating permit expires in September 2022. CEMEX applied for the permit extension on May 2, 2022 and during the process, the company is closely coordinating with Boulder County representatives and external consultants. Boulder County Commissioners are expected to vote on the permit after a recommendation by the county’s Community Planning & Permitting Department Director.

Why It is Needed

CEMEX believes renewing the permit for Dowe Flats Quarry is the most efficient method to obtain materials to produce cement that is vital for the growth of Colorado. Dowe Flats has been acknowledged as one of the most biodiverse locations in Boulder County with numerous wildlife species including deer, elk, fox, rodents, mountain lion and birds. CEMEX has proven a continued commitment to preserving the wildlife and nature at the quarry.

Permit Process

The permitting process is lengthy and follows the process below:

• Pre-application conference
  • A preliminary meeting with Boulder County departments to clarify what studies and reports will be submitted by CEMEX
• Submittal appointment
  • Formal application is submitted to Boulder County
• Referral period
  • 35-day process for county review
• Boulder County staff review and comments
• Resubmittal of application after review and comment period
• Planning Commission hearing
  • Occurs third Wednesday of every month, open to the public
• Board of County Commissioners hearing
  • Presentation of recommendation by Land Use Director, public comments and final vote by County Commissioners
• Post approval requirements and Development Agreement

Media Center

• April 5, 2022
  CEMEX increasing production of lower carbon Portland limestone cement in Colorado
• May 22, 2020
  CEMEX Lyons delivers grant for critical community aid during COVID-19 crisis
• August 31, 2018
  CEMEX and B Strong Ride Team Up for Safer Roads Together

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