Frito Lay Plant Off The Grid

Well…almost off the grid.  The Frito Lay plant in Casa Grande, Arizona, is attempting to go net zero.  Companies are finally learning that while there is initial cost to all of these initiatives, the payoff for the planet and the company is immense.  These are long-term investments that companies need to make.

The plant in Arizona plans to complete their project by 2010 – which isn’t too far off.  So what is on the table for Frito Lay?  First off, they are going to install water filters.  These filters will recycle the water used to rinse the potatoes.  They also plan to recycle the excess corn from various snacks.  The leftover sludge from the water and corn will be burned and turned into methane gas to run the plants boiler.  Also on the slate is to build a large solar concentrator behind the plant to generate most of the plants energy.  These concentrators will generate steam which will be run through pipes back to the plant for energy.

“We don’t know what the complete payoff for net zero is going to be,” said Indra K. Nooyi, PepsiCo’s chairman and chief executive. “If this works even to 50 or 60 percent of its potential, that is fantastic, and it’s so much better than what we already have.”

Personally, I think its great that these companies are doing more than just buying carbon credits.  I must say that I think that the motive behind most of these iniatives are not for the better of the planet, but better for the marketing department and pocketbooks.  People are going to buy their products anyway, so if this helps them in the competition, then so-be-it.  At least they are taking the green steps even if its not necessarily for the right reasons.

Source: New York Times, AZCentral.com