Cement startup Furno has been awarded a $20 million grant from the Department of Energy to establish low-carbon micro-kilns at a Chicago concrete plant. This initiative aims to alleviate transportation costs and reduce pollution by producing cement locally. Furno's partner, Ozinga, currently sources 60,000 tons of cement annually, and the new kilns will utilize biogas and recycled materials to minimize environmental impact. The project, named Project Oz, is expected to create 80 jobs and will be showcased at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 in San Francisco.