Feds steer $87 million toward low carbon cement plant in Holyoke

Sublime Systems, which promises a product that "replaces today's cement with no compromises," has snagged $87 million in federal funds to build a plant in Holyoke.

The U.S. Department of Energy made the award Monday under its industrial demonstrations program and expects the project to create 70 to 90 permanent jobs "in a community that once produced nearly all of the United States’ writing paper but has seen a decline in industry over the 20th century."

The energy department said Sublime Systems' new method to make ultra-low carbon cement "replaces carbon-intensive limestone with abundant calcium silicate-based feedstocks, resulting in industry-standard cement that is produced electrochemically instead of using high heat."

"By demonstrating this transformational process that was previously supported by ARPA-E, Sublime Systems would strengthen American supply chains for low-carbon products, increase transparency for product environmental impact and performance, and catalyze industry-wide change," the energy department said.

Congressman Richard Neal of Springfield said in a statement that he was "thrilled" by Sublime's selection and noted the $6.3 billion demonstration program was funded by the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that he helped draft when he chaired the House Ways and Means Committee.

Somerville-based Sublime Systems and the United Steelworkers have signed an agreement supporting Sublime Systems' employees’ right to organize at the Holyoke factory, the department said, as well as a memorandum of understanding to negotiate project labor agreements with the region's building trade unions.

Sublime also plans to support the Holyoke K-12 education system "through curriculum enhancement and teacher support in partnership with the Smithsonian Science Education Center" and facilitate a long-term training pipeline for Holyoke and the Pioneer Valley.