Every year, Public Utilities Fortnightly holds a forum electric utility executives. And another for gas utility executives. And another for state regulators.
This year we decided to ask utility customers what they think.DuPont, the country's number one chemical company, operates in 70 countries. It is, perhaps, best known for its Teflon products, but it also makes refrigerants, pigments, fibers (Lycra), nylon resins, electronics, medical products, and many other products. DuPont also deals in petroleum through Conoco, its largest subsidiary.
Dupont:
Runs about 175 manufacturing and processing facilities, including 150 chemicals and specialties plants, 5 petroleum refineries, and 20 natural gas processing plants.
Uses approximately 10 million Mwh of electrical energy in the United States.
Produces about 20 percent of its own power in the United States.
Ken Towe is responsible for purchasing/purchasing strategy for #6 fuel oil and electricity/ steam for the Northeast and Midwest United States for Dupont.
Intel, the world's largest computer chip maker, is a leading manufacturer of personal computer, networking, and communications products.
Intel:
Owns 11 sites worldwide (em five international, six domestic.
Uses 1.25 million Mwh of electrical energy in the United States, and .75 million Mwh overseas.
Gets none of its power from cogeneration. But recent drops in gas prices and improvements in gas turbine technology are making cogeneration a more economically viable option for Intel. It will be evaluated, as applicable, for new and existing sites. Obviously, environmental and other concerns are always an issue.