Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/93285
OPERAT 1 Behind the meter Benefi ts of Renewable Energy F inding alternative sources of energy makes sense from an environmental and a fi nancial viewpoint. In spite of headway made in recent years, it's an uphill batt le fi ghting the public's general perception of the aggregates industry as less than environmentally friendly. And energy costs are not going down. One answer? Renewable energy. Because of their geographic location, some producers have been able to move toward renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power — both con- nected to and removed from the grid. In 2006, CalPortland Co., based in Glendora, Calif., entered into a long- term agreement with Alite Wind, LLC, to supply power from eight 3-megawatt (MW) wind turbines at its Mojave Cement Plant. Installed in 2007, the 24 MWs of power generated by these turbines for the plant — up to 60 mil- lion kilowatt s of power per year — is equivalent to the annual energy needs of more than 10,000 homes. "Th e Mojave Cement Plant (north of Los Angeles in the Mojave Desert) is in one of the windiest areas in the country," says Steve Coppinger, director of engineering services for CalPortland. He explains that, while there are other wind turbines on the property that are connected to the grid, the turbines supplying power to the Mojave Ce- ment Plant are completely "behind the meter. " AGGREGATES MANAGER "Th e plant is on the grid, but the turbines are behind the meter," Cop- pinger says. "Th e energy the turbines produce amounts to about 35 percent of our needs, so we draw our additional energy from the grid. But everything we collect with these eight turbines reduces the energy we have to pull from the grid." Th e BoDean Co. of Santa Rosa, Calif., has also invested in renewable energy. In late 2010, its Mark West Quarry near Napa Valley began installation of solar panels that would allow the company to operate off the grid. On May 11, 2011, the Mark West Quarry held an offi cial cutover ceremony, as the site became 100-percent solar powered. "Th e area where the Mark West Quarry lies is far enough inland that fog creates a minimal impact," says Bill Williams, BoDean Co. general manager. "While we do get rain in the winter; in the spring, summer, and fall — which is our largest production period — it's dry and rarely cloudy. " Unlike the wind turbines at the Mojave Cement Plant, the Mark West Quarry's solar panels are connected to the grid. When the weather is cloudy, the plant may draw power from the grid. And when it is sunny, enough power is produced that the quarry can feed power back into the grid, even as it uses power for the plant. "It seems to balance out in what we draw from and feed into the grid," Williams notes. It takes teamwork and buy-in from all levels of a company to commit to improved energy effi ciency. Having an energy man- agement team allows a company to focus on achieving goals. Regular meetings, teleconferences, and energy seminars with employees help to bring everyone onto the same page. Onsite visits with employees can be energy treasure hunts, versus energy audits, often bringing new energy-saving opportunities to light. The ability to provide your own energy via renewable sources, such as wind, is driving some companies to set up energy systems "be- hind the meter." In these situations, a portion of the energy needs for the site are delivered independent of the electrical grid — by way of a few wind turbines or solar panels. While the independent system may provide much of the energy for the site, it does not provide all of it. Additional energy needs are met from the grid. 4 Corporate culture