July 2, 2007—The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized two ethanol facilities in the Midwest for reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions equaling the amount of pollution from almost 6,000 cars annually. Energy Star awards will be given to these facilities at the 23rd Annual International Fuel Ethanol Workshop and Expo in St. Louis, MO.
EPA will award ethanol facilities in Missouri and Illinois for using Combined Heat and Power (CHP), or cogeneration, to reduce their energy use by more than 12 percent. By installing a CHP system designed to meet the needs of the facility, a CHP can increase operational efficiency and decrease energy costs, while reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
One of the award winners, Macon Municipal Utilities, reportedly reduced their energy use by 25 percent. Macon Municipal Utilities installed a 10 megawatt (MW) natural gas-fired combustion turbine CHP system at its 45 million gallon-per-year ethanol plant in Northeast Missouri. The CHP system will likely reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 28,000 tons per year.
At its 40 million gallon-per-year ethanol plant in Illinois, Adkins Energy LLC reportedly decreased their energy use by 15 percent with a 5 MW natural gas-fired combustion turbine CHP system. According to EPA, the CHP system reduces greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 8,700 tons per year.
For more information on the 2007 Energy Star CHP Award winners, visit EPA’s Web site.
