Plastics suppliers trying out green power

Two leading companies in the plastics industry, Dow Chemical Co. and Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd., have turned to alternative energy sources to meet some of their electricity needs.
Dow recently announced plans to use 500 fuel cells supplied by General Motors to generate 35 megawatts of power at a Dow Chemical plant in Freeport, TX.
Tests of GM’s proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells at Dow are expected to begin during the fourth quarter of 2003.
According to GM, the fuel cell stacks used to provide stationary power generation are the same as those used to power vehicles, so the experience with Dow will benefit GM’s plans for hydrogen-powered vehicles.
This is the first time an automaker has sold fuel cells to produce electricity for industrial buildings and manufacturing. Dow is in a unique position to pursue this because the company is able to supply its own hydrogen to be converted to electricity.
Mold and machinery manufacturer Husky Injection Molding Systems has turned to renewable energy sources for some of its operations. Husky is purchasing electricity produced from renewable sources for its Bolton, ON headquarters and manufacturing site through Ontario Power Generation’s Evergreen Energy Green Power program.
In Buffalo, NY, Husky’s spare parts facility is now powered by wind energy. Community Energy Inc. is supplying and delivering New Wind Energy to the facility. The estimated additional cost for choosing wind energy over conventional forms is only 10%, according to Husky.