Sierra Club’s Town Hall With Indiana Community Cement Plans for Decarbonizing Heidelberg Materials’ Plant

Company states the project will capture about 95% of the plant's carbon dioxide emissions

January 17, 2025

Mitchell, Indiana- Today, a virtual Sierra Club Town Hall in partnership with Heidelberg Materials gathered residents, community leaders, and stakeholders to discuss decarbonization federal grant programs that can transform local opportunities and deliver tangible community benefits. Last year, the Department of Energy (DOE) selectedHeidelberg Material's cement plant in Mitchell, IN as a recipient of up to $500 million in grants to address on-site emissions at its cement facility. The company states that its project will capture about 95% of the plant's carbon dioxide emissions.

The town hall highlighted critical areas for growth, including clean energy development, workforce investments, and equitable access to federal resources. Heidelberg Materials intends to use public funds from the DOE program to construct and operate an integrated carbon capture, transport, and storage system at the Mitchell, Indiana Cement Plant.

Local resident Beth Frigerioshared, "As a nurse of 34 years who sees MANY workers with interstitial lung disease from breathing in small particles, there should be a fund to help pay for the expensive and life-long effects of lung disease caused by breathing in small particles." Frigerio also discussed the CO₂ storage process and its risks with Heidelberg Materials representatives.

Local resident Cody Lamwas concerned about underground storage, "How can Heidelberg Materials ensure that the CO₂ injected underground will remain securely stored for thousands of years, and what measures are in place to prevent leakage? What long-term monitoring systems will be implemented to detect potential leaks, and who will be responsible for overseeing this monitoring?" Heidelberg Materials representatives also discussed the potential impacts of CO₂ injection on local water tables, ecosystems, and the geological stability research process with Lam.

Mitchell Mayor Dan Caudellattended and welcomed community members for the question-and-answer portion of the town hall.

As part of the requirement for receiving public funding to install this technology, the facility must negotiate a set of commitments with the local community. The Sierra Club supports millions of members to advocate to fight for the places, people, and planet we all love. The town hall emphasized the importance of community engagement, showcasing how collaborative input from residents and labor unions can lead to sustainable, inclusive development.

"Heidelberg Materials' commitment to the community benefits engagement process is critical in ensuring that residents understand the proposed project and can benefit from the $500 million investment being made to decarbonize cement production in Mitchell, Indiana. We appreciate Heidelberg Materials for leaning into having discussions with the community about its plans for the site," shared Robyn Skuya-Boss, Sierra Club Indiana Chapter Director.

The community education efforts included the following discussions:

• Federal Policy: How to ensure these investments benefit underserved and overburdened communities.
• Long-Term Impact: Carbon capture's impact on the environment, long-term goals for reducing emissions, and ensuring that any infrastructure built through this funding will continue to benefit the Mitchell community.
• Energy transition:Plans to gradually move away from natural gas.
• Community Benefit Plans (CBPs): Strategic approaches to fostering job quality, diversity, and local investment tailored to specific community needs.
• Steps Toward a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA): Heidelberg's commitment to negotiating legally binding agreements with stakeholders, ensuring accountability and shared growth.

"At the center of our actions lies our responsibility for the environment. We are committed to leading the industry on our path to carbon neutrality. We are excited to work with the Mitchell community on this innovative cement project," shared David Perkins, SVP of Sustainability and Public Affairs. Other Heidelberg Materials representatives in attendance included Greg Ronczka, VP of Carbon Transport and Storage Development, Wendy Krause, Director of Environment and Sustainability for the Midwest Region, and Ed Cole, Community Outreach Specialist.

Sierra Club's Industrial Transformation Director CeCe Grant and Deputy Director Iliana Paul moderated the town hall, alongside Julia Lowe, Hoosier Chapter Volunteer Leader.

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.

Industrial Transformation