Companies Find Creative Ways To Make Own Power

July 10, 2007

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Massachusetts businesses – from small markets to retail giants – are trying to gain control over soaring energy costs by producing it themselves, The Boston Globe reports.

“If you’re just purchasing energy on the market, you are vulnerable to its swings,” said Warren Leon, director the state’s Renewable Energy Trust, which funds alternative energy initiatives through small utility surcharges. “But when you have something onsite, like a wind turbine, you can get some predictability.”

A few examples from the article:

Staples is pursuing wind power to provide about 25 percent of the electricity it needs at its Framingham headquarters. The office supply retailer is undertaking wind projects at three other U.S. locations and is also installing solar energy systems.

Ring Bros. Marketplace , a specialty grocer, plans to install a system that turns food waste into electricity at a cost of about $280,000, including $195,000 in grants from the Renewable Energy Trust. Depending on the amount of organic waste available, the system could generate more electricity than the store needs.

Twin Rivers Technologies uses the by products from soybean and other natural oils it processes to produce about half the fuel Twin Rivers burns at its Quincy plant, saving millions of dollars in energy costs. It also uses steam from its manufacturing process to generate electricity and hopes to eventually add wind power, too.

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Reader Comments

Each of us has played a role in creating the precarious energy dependent situation that exits today in the U.S.

Likewise we can each play a role in the solution.

However not everyone can run out and buy a new hybrid vehicle or invest in a electricity generating Solar PV system or wind turbine for our homes and businesses.

Yet, If we each play a role as best as we’re able, together we can make a world of difference!

Glenn Maltais | July 10th, 2007