The Reducing Industrial Sector Emissions in Pennsylvania program recently awarded Hegins-based Keystone Potato Products a $784,350 grant for equipment.
Funding will support the installation of an anaerobic digester and a combined heat and power system to generate clean energy. The project is expected to reduce operating costs, improve energy efficiency and support the region’s economic activity.
The program is funded through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grants and is a $396 million statewide initiative. Grants are awarded to industrial facilities for projects that improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions.
“Investments like this help strengthen our local economy while supporting key industries that provide jobs in our communities,” U.S. Rep. JoAnne Stehr (R-PA) said. “By helping manufacturers upgrade their operations and reduce energy costs, this funding allows businesses to remain competitive and continue growing here in Pennsylvania.”
The latest round of RISE PA grants provided 31 projects statewide with more than $267 million in funding. The projects are expected to reduce more than 1.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in the first year and save more than $3 million annually in energy costs.
Keystone Potato Products operates a 80,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility and on-site quality assurance testing laboratory.