Olives are now processed in a more energy-efficient way at the Bell-Carter facility in Corning.
PG&E has awarded a $114,000 energy-efficiency rebate to Bell-Carter Foods Inc., the largest table olive company in the United States, for improvements made at its waste-water treatment facility.
The check is a rebate to acknowledge energy savings generated from a special aeration project constructed to reduce energy use at Bell-Carter Foods’ waste-water treatment facility in Corning.
The new aeration system has 65 motors that inject air into waste water. The motors automatically turn off when not in use to save electricity. The system monitors peak time for energy use and uses the most efficient motor needed.
As a result, Bell-Carter Foods has reduced its electric use by 2.7 million kilowatt hours and reduced the cost of treating the waste water by $329,208 annually. It will reduce the company’s carbon footprint by 788 tons, and the energy saved is the equivalent of what is needed to power 257 homes.
“This is a great accomplishment for us as we continue to focus on and improve upon our sustainable practices at Bell-Carter Foods,” said Ron Kerr, the company’s director of engineering. “It is extremely important to us to implement energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly projects. This is just one example of our efforts.”
Founded in 1912, Bell-Carter Foods is the largest table olive producer in the United States and the second largest in the world. It produces olives for both private labels and the consumer brand, Lindsay Olives.
