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$50 million investment to significantly reduce
CO2 emissions, natural gas consumption
Midland, Mich. (USA) – October 1, 2007 – Silicon-materials leader Dow
Corning Corp. today announced a $50 million investment in new equipment for its
Midland, Mich., plant that is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20
percent, total emissions by 75 percent, and lower the site’s consumption of
natural gas by 400 billion Btu per year – the equivalent of heating more than
3,500 homes over the winter.
“Dow Corning realizes the best way to continue living our value of sustainability
is through eagerness to change and a willingness to invest in the best
technology available,”said Peter Cartwright, Dow Corning executive director for
environment, health and safety. “I'm very excited about this development.
It's a fantastic opportunity for Dow Corning to implement this innovative and
environmentally sound manufacturing technology and also see if it has
application in our other facilities.”
The new equipment includes a recycle system designed to remove and recycle
by-products from manufacturing processes, and a thermal oxidizer that will
reduce air emissions from the site while generating steam for process heating.
The recycling system uses a plasma gasification process that separates the
waste material generated in the chlorosilanes manufacturing process into
organic and chlorine parts. The organic portion is converted into a synthetic
gas for use in the steam boilers. The chlorine portion will be converted into
one of the raw materials used to make chlorosilanes. Remaining materials will
be turned into a relatively small amount of inert obsidian-likeglass that is
also recyclable.
When fully operational this process will generate approximately one-third of
the site’s steam load, significantly reducing the consumption of natural
gas.
Dow Corning is working with two companies on the project. The waste
processing system will be owned by Integrated Environmental Technologies,
LLC (www.inentec.com), the premier provider of plasma-based waste
processing and clean energy systems, based in Richland, Washington. A second
company, Veolia Environmental Services (www.VeoliaES.com), one of the
largest waste companies in the country based in Lombard, Ill, was contracted by
IET to operate the recycling equipment. Several of the new jobs created
from this investment will be Veolia Environmental Services employees.
“This is the first time that the plasma-based waste processing system will
be used commercially in the U.S. to recycle chemical waste, and we are thrilled
that Dow Corning has agreed to take this tremendous step,” said IET CEO Jeffrey
Surma. “We are pleased to be part of such a revolutionary process that provides
low-cost and environmentally sound alternatives for waste disposal.”
“This is a very cutting-edge process. It is the first time that the
gasification process has been used commercially to recycle chlorinated organic
liquids in the U.S.,” said Philippe Martin, President and CEO of Veolia ES,
Technical Solutions. "We are pleased to be part of such a revolutionary
process that aids in the conservation of our environment and promotes
recycling.”
The Midland plant upgrades are the latest in a series of sustainability
activities announced by Dow Corning, which in 2005 announced a five-year plan
to improve employee and process safety, energy efficiency, waste and emission
reduction, and environmental compatibility.
“These initiatives involve extensive commitment and cooperation across many
of our business operations. The improvements range from simple day-to-day
activities like turning off lights to bigger initiatives such as eliminating
steps in the manufacturing process, transforming waste into new materials, and
collaborating with customers on sustainable solutions,” Cartwright said.
Other recent announcements include:
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In September, Dow Corning announced its sponsorship of the International
Polar Foundation’s (IPF) efforts to study climate change and sustainable
materials at the world’s first zero-emission research station, the Princess
Elisabeth Antarctic Station
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In July, the company inaugurated 1,000 square meters of solar panels that will
provide electricity and reduce carbon dioxide emissions at its Wiesbaden,
Germany, plant.
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In May, Dow Corning announced the largest expansion in the history of the
polycrystalline silicon industry – the critical material that enables solar
energy to be a reality.
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Also in May, the company introduced a new denim processing capability that significantly reduces the amount of water
used, and decreases waste output as well.
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In December 2006, the company unveiled a solar panel array for a minor-league baseball team stadium in Midland,
Mich., designed to generate enough power to operate the stadium’s
scoreboard.
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The company recently completed a four-year project at its site in Barry,
Wales, to create a nature reserve within its site boundaries, which
demonstrates how a chemical company can co-exist in harmony with the
environment.
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The company is also developing building construction materials that lower
energy consumption, and has developed a way to help produce safer, more
fuel-efficient automobile
tires.
About Dow Corning
Dow Corning (www.dowcorning.com) provides
performance-enhancing solutions to serve the diverse needs of more than 25,000
customers worldwide. A global leader in silicon-based technology and
innovation, offering more than 7,000 products and services, Dow Corning is
equally owned by The Dow Chemical Company and Corning, Incorporated. More than
half of Dow Corning’s annual sales are outside the United States.
About Integrated Environmental Technologies, LLC
Integrated Environmental Technologies, LLC ("IET") (www.inentec.com) provides high-tech solutions
to the problems of waste accumulation and the need for clean renewable
fuels. Through its proprietary waste recycling system, the Plasma Enhanced
Melter ("PEM™"), IET transforms municipal (household),
commercial, medical, and most industrial and hazardous wastes into clean
renewable products, such as ethanol, methanol, syngas and hydrogen, with
minimal environmental impact and low costs. The system exceeds the EPA’s
standards for comparable facilities in all areas including: air emissions,
water discharges, and solid waste generation, and comes closer to 100%
recycling of waste than any other such commercially available technology.
ABOUT VEOLIA ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES IN NORTH AMERICA
Veolia Environmental Services North America Corp. (www.VeoliaES.com), headquartered in Lombard,
IL, offers fully integrated environmental solutions to virtually all
industrial, commercial, municipal and residential sectors. It is part of the
Veolia Environmental Services (VES) group, the only global manager of liquid,
solid, non-hazardous and hazardous waste; on-site waste processing, industrial
cleaning and process maintenance; and recycling, recovery and disposal for both
the public and private sectors. VES has over 80,000 employees in 35 countries
and posted revenues of $9.8 billion in 2006. Veolia Environment (NYSE:VE), the
parent of VES, with operations in water, waste, energy and transportation
management, has more than 300,000 employees in 64 countries and recorded
revenues of $37.7 billion in 2006.
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WE HELP YOU INVENT THE FUTURE™
NOTE TO EDITORS: Still photographs, b-roll, and interviews may be
obtained by contacting Jarrod
Erpelding in Dow Corning’s Corporate Communications department.
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