NYSERDA Press Releases

Anheuser-Busch Receives $250,000 in State Incentives To Upgrade Plant Operations

Baldwinsville, NY – The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
(NYSERDA) will provide $250,000 in cash incentives to the Anheuser-Busch Baldwinsville brewery for a $1 million dollar project to install new boiler plant technology that will reduce the brewery's energy consumption, reduce pollution, decrease manufacturing costs and increase the brewery's competitiveness. The project is scheduled to be completed by fall 2003 and is expected to save Anheuser-Busch more than $550,000 annually.

"We have been encouraging Anheuser-Busch, Inc. and other industrial customers in New York State to use NYSERDA's programs as a means of reducing their operating costs," said NYSERDA President William M. Flynn. "The financial and technical incentives we offer can provide energy savings to help New York businesses maintain a competitive edge. Governor Pataki has tasked the Authority with helping companies make these kind of process and energy efficiency improvements because of their link to improving our economy and environment."

"The use of new energy efficient technologies by companies such as Anheuser-Busch is forward thinking that will not only make them more competitive by lowering operating costs, but will also help protect the environment,"said Senator John DeFrancisco. "I applaud Anheuser-Busch for taking the initiative to work with NYSERDA and Governor Pataki to acquire funding for this worthy project."

"In terms of environmental and economic benefits, this project is a step in the right direction. By improving the efficiency of their boiler plant, Anheuser-Busch will save hundreds of thousands in fuel costs each year and significantly reduce emissions," said Assemblyman Hal Brown. "In order to cut costs and save energy, I encourage more businesses and manufacturers to follow Anheuser-Busch's lead and investigate the various opportunities available through NYSERDA."

"Energy is a major component of manufacturing in New York State. If manufacturers want to continue to be competitive in the global marketplace, we must continue to pursue more energy efficient manufacturing technologies," said Randy Wolken, president of the Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY). "MACNY commends Anheuser-Busch, Governor Pataki and NYSERDA for their innovative pursuit of energy efficiency through this important collaboration."

Anheuser-Busch is the world's largest brewer, with 12 breweries in the United States. The Baldwinsville brewery, opened in 1983, is 1.5 million square feet, produces approximately 8 million barrels of beer annually and employs nearly 800 people. The Anheuser-Busch Baldwinsville brewery uses a steam and heat process supplied by four boilers. In order to recover 25 percent more energy, Anheuser-Busch decided to replace the entire thermal recovery system with new equipment.

Using an innovative configuration and underutilized, thermal recovery technology, Anheuser-Busch was awarded $250,000 under NYSERDA's Industrial Process and Productivity Program Opportunity Notice. The program's objective is to help businesses and manufacturers develop or demonstrate innovative and underutilized industrial process upgrades that can improve productivity, product yield, and product quality while also exhibiting improvement in energy efficiency, pollution mitigation or waste management.

Since 1998, NYSERDA has provided more than $7 million to support more than 185 projects in Onondaga County. Combined with co-funding from NYSERDA's partners, the value of these projects is more than $21 million. Among some of the other customers NYSERDA is working with in Onondaga County, are: LeMoyne College, eBidenergy.com Inc., Carrier Corporation, HSBC Bank USA and Kaufmans.

NYSERDA, a public benefit corporation, supports research to develop and demonstrate technologies that help New York save energy and reduce emissions. NYSERDA also helps New York State businesses develop energy and environmental products, commercializing the type of high-value-added products that give New York State businesses a real chance to compete in the expanding global marketplace. In addition, NYSERDA helps New York State businesses, residents, and municipalities identify and implement cost-effective energy efficiency measures that lower operating costs and reduce environmental emissions.

For more information about NYSERDA, call toll-free 1-(866)-NYSERDA or visit www.nyserda.org.