A host of companies, from beer brewers to computer chip makers and universities, are gaining more than $14 million in New York state funding to help green their operations as part of the Commercial & Industrial (C&I) Carbon Challenge.
Late last year, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced awards to seven projects for the fourth round of the C&I decarbonization effort. The seven entities combined will offer projects aimed at reducing more than 800,000 metric tons of CO2.
The C&I Carbon Challenge is a state-funded competitive program for large energy users such as manufacturers, schools, health care facilities and office building owners. The projects can range from renewable energy to energy efficiency, all in the name of decarbonizing operations.
“These C&I Carbon Challenge awardees are demonstrating a commitment to reduce their emissions and move toward carbon neutrality,” NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said in a statement. “Their projects will serve as models for other energy intensive business owners across the state who can similarly take action to implement clean energy measures that increase costs savings, environmental benefits and build local and regional sustainability.”
The awardees include Anheuser-Busch, Syracuse University, GlobalFoundries, Vornado, Cornell University, REDRochester and the University of Rochester. The first of those is installing a carbon capture and re-use system at its brewery in Baldwinsville, N.Y.
Normally, Anheuser-Busch must acquire CO2 to be used in its brewing process, but this project would recycle the captured carbon and introduce a cost savings as well as emissions reduction. The Baldwinsville plant also utilizes off-site solar electricity as it produces more than three million cases of beverages annually.
Nearly five years ago, HVAC infrastructure firm JW Danforth help lead an efficiency overhaul with piping systems at the A-B plant (See photo).
At Syracuse, university energy planners are bringing new and highly efficient electrified chillers as part of a modernization effort. At Cornell, crews will capture and re-use heat otherwise wasted and also upgrade existing building control systems with digital automation.
Semiconductor maker GlobalFoundries will undertake three projects targeted at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These include a shift to lower-emitting process refrigerants at the East Fishkill manufacturing site.
Three months ago, GlobalFoundries announced approval by Vermont regulators to form its own utility for energy use at a plant in that state.
The U.S. is working to shore up its semiconductor and e-mobility battery supply chains domestically.
