US DOE and Vicat Group launch $500M Lebec Net Zero project to make California cement plant emission-free.

The US Department of Energy has partnered with the Vicat Group to develop the Lebec Net Zero project at a cement plant in California. The agreement, worth up to $500 million, aims to reduce the plant's CO2 emissions to zero by building a CO2 sequestration facility capable of capturing nearly 950,000 metric tons of CO2 annually. The project also includes increasing the use of alternative fuels and producing carbon-neutral cement. The first phase, running through Q1 2026, involves a preliminary engineering study and setting up a local community advisory body.