Golden State Today

Governor Gavin Newsom continued his "California Jobs First" tour with a visit to a low-emissions cement plant in Lebec, Kern County. This follows the launch of an economic framework aimed at accelerating job creation in clean industries.

During his visit to National Cement, Governor Newsom toured the facility and engaged with union workers and local leaders. The cement industry faces challenges in decarbonization due to the high heat required for production and specific chemical processes involved. National Cement is transitioning to low-emissions operations and more sustainable cement mixes, aiming to become one of the nation's first fully decarbonized plants.

Governor Newsom also met with the Kern County Jobs First Collaborative to discuss regional economic priorities and initiatives focused on creating jobs in climate-forward sectors.

“Last week, I visited Fresno and now I’m here in Kern County because California’s economy only thrives when all our regions thrive. With these California Jobs First regional plans, we’re hearing directly from communities across our state about their economic priorities and their visions for the future. We’re doubling down and building a clean economy that will help power California for generations to come,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.

The California Jobs First Economic Blueprint unveiled last week aims to enhance the state's clean economy, impacting nearly every region. The clean economy includes sectors like onshore wind, solar, and carbon management, which are prioritized in Kern County's regional plan. National Cement's Lebec plant is expected to play a significant role as it advances its decarbonization efforts and explores carbon capture expansion.

The clean energy sector is crucial for California's economy, with seven times more jobs than fossil fuels. The state leads nationally with over half a million clean energy jobs—twice as many as Texas—and continues efforts under Governor Newsom's leadership to expand this workforce further.