MIDDLEBURY — A new partnership between Vermont Gas and several of its energy partners has helped Agri-Mark’s Cabot cheese plant in Middlebury significantly reduce its energy consumption, reducing overall environmental impact and reducing the cost of running the facility.
Vermont Gas said in a recent press release that its “Energy Efficiency” team worked together with Agri-Mark, which makes cheese and other dairy products at the cooperative’s plant, to identify ways to use natural gas more efficiently. This included repair and replacement of steam traps, which can leak otherwise usable steam. With these efficiency upgrades, the co-op will save over 14,000 mcf per year (mcf is a volume of gas equal to 1,000 cubic feet) — that’s enough energy to heat over 140 homes, according to Vermont Gas. In addition, Agri-Mark will save over $100,000 per year from the efficiency improvements.
“This a great example of the positive environmental and economic impact the Addison Natural Gas Expansion Project will have on our state. We are thrilled to be working with the team at Agri-Mark to make their Middlebury processing plant more energy efficient,” said Don Rendall, president and CEO of Vermont Gas. “We are passionate about embracing innovation to reduce emissions and we are proud to deliver award-winning energy efficiency services.  Helping our customers save money by using less energy is a win for our customers and a win for our planet. We are excited to be bringing this important work to Addison County.”
“Our partnership with Vermont Gas has provided us the opportunity to make real strides in reducing our carbon footprint,” said Doug DiMento, Agri-Mark director of communications. “These innovations and savings also benefit our business and the livelihood of our farm family owners both in Addison County and throughout New England and New York.”
Vermont Gas has been helping customers in Franklin and Chittenden counties save money by reducing their energy use since 1993. It recently began offering its energy efficiency programs to families and businesses in Addison County, ahead of the Addison Natural Gas Project.