Business News
Mohawk Fine Papers Supports Two New Alternative Energy Projects
Friday 19. June 2009 - Mohawk Fine Papers Inc. announced its purchase of Verified Emissions Reduction (VER) contracts for two alternative energy projects.
Since Mohawk joined the U.S. EPA Climate Leaders program in 2007 to develop formal greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals, the company has worked to reduce its carbon emissions as well as to make any remaining emissions carbon neutral. By investing in VERs, which support emission reduction projects or renewable or alternative energy projects like wind farms and biomass plants, Mohawk offsets any carbon emissions remaining after its own reduction efforts.
Mohawk’s new VER investments equal an additional 5,000 metric tons of carbon offsets, which means that, since the inception of its carbon neutral program in 2007, Mohawk’s carbon offset commitments total over 29,000 metric tons.
Greenville County (Enoree) Landfill Gas Utilization Project
The Enoree project captures the gas produced through the natural decay of Greenville County’s household trash and uses two Caterpillar(R) G3520 engines to convert it into electricity. This project can generate about 3.2 megawatts of electricity, which is equivalent to powering about 2,000 average-sized homes annually. Landfill gas is one of the most economical renewable options available in South Carolina and it uses proven technology. It is believed to be the first U.S. landfill gas project to be verified to the Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS).
Irani Wastewater Methane Avoidance Project
The Irani project is a wastewater methane avoidance project in Campina da Alegria district, Vargem Bonita City, Brazil. The purpose of the project is to avoid methane emissions generated from current wastewater treatment and disposal practices. The project introduces a new wastewater treatment scheme, which will stop anaerobic digestion of the organic wastewater in the ponds. The treated wastewater can then be directed to a river without potentially harmful organic material in it.