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Awards

Dakota Gas recognized for carbon dioxide efforts

ACC is proud of our member companies who have improved energy efficiency by implementing new technology, new processes and new procedures. -- Jack N. Gerard, President and CEO of the ACC.

The Responsible Care® Energy Efficiency Awards program is among the American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) many ongoing initiatives to improve energy efficiency. These projects have the added benefit of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In 2007, the total annual energy savings achieved by the awards was 14.1 trillion BTUs, while annual carbon dioxide emissions reductions were over 1.47 million tons.
 
“ACC is proud of our member companies who have improved energy efficiency by implementing new technology, new processes and new procedures,” said Jack N. Gerard, President and CEO of the ACC. “This announcement reflects our industry’s ongoing commitment to saving energy in our own operations while contributing many of the materials that help the U.S. economy be more energy-efficient.”

Dave Peightal, Daren Eliason and Chris Hanson accept the ACC award for Dakota Gas.

“Since 1974, Responsible Care companies have reduced fuel and power energy consumption per unit of output by nearly half. And as an industry, between 1990 and 2006, our absolute greenhouse gas emissions fell 12.5 percent, a reduction that would have exceeded the Kyoto Protocol target. Our greenhouse gas intensity – greenhouse gas emissions per unit of output – improved 38 percent in that time.”
 
Dakota Gasification Company’s Great Plains Synfuels Plant received an Environmental Impact – Plant site award for Carbon Dioxide Capture and Emission Reduction. Dakota Gas’ carbon capture project was one of three projects chosen to receive this award.
 
Dave Peightal, environmental manager, Chris Hanson, senior environmental engineer, and Daren Eliason, process engineer, compiled the facts and completed the application for the ACC award. “Receiving this award is another way to recognize that Dakota Gas is the largest CO2 carbon capture project in the world,” Hanson says.
 
The 2007 Energy Efficiency Award winners were selected from five categories:

• The “Energy Efficiency Program” award is given to companies with broad programs to achieve energy efficiency improvements, with components such as establishing energy teams, goal setting, communications, management support and recognition.
• The “Significant Improvement in Manufacturing” award is given to companies that improve energy efficiency in their manufacturing operations through technical innovations, creative projects or novel procedures or actions.
• The “Environmental Impact” award is given for initiatives with substantial environmental benefits, including reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, in addition to energy efficiency improvements.
• The “Non-Manufacturing Improvement” award is given for improvements resulting from energy efficient lighting, insulation, other building improvements and other non-manufacturing energy improvements.
• The “Public Outreach” award is given for an effective program of involvement with the community regarding energy efficiency and related environmental impact activities.

Brian Raher, BNSF Marketing, Industrial Chemicals, presents the award to Tim Kaffar, wastewater and product loading superintendent.

Individual ACC member companies nominate specific projects for recognition under the award program. The judging committee which determined the winners is comprised of selected members of ACC’s Energy Team.
 
Hanson says ACC presented Dakota Gas with a plaque in June 2008 to commemorate the award.

BNSF presents award

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway recognized Dakota Gas in June 2008 with its Product Stewardship Award.

This award is presented to shippers that transport a minimum of 500 loads of hazardous materials – such as anhydrous ammonia – with zero non-accidental releases. This is the third time Dakota Gas has received the award, the last time being in 2000.

Maintenance group sets safety record

The maintenance group at the Synfuels Plant has worked more than one year and more than half a million hours without a lost-time accident, according to safety department records. May 23, 2007 was the last time a lost workday accident was recorded for that group of employees. More than 300 employees make up the maintenance department and are the most vulnerable to have an accident because of the type of work they do.

Dave Sauer, maintenance manager, says, “Our day-to-day work is more dangerous in nature than most of the other employees at the plant. To accomplish a record like this shows that our maintenance employees are taking a proactive stance on safety. For that I am proud of them and thank them for their safe work habits.”

Bob Fagerstrom, plant manager, says, “These are the type of improvements we are excited to see. With our new safety program implemented, and training continuing, we hope to see this kind of statistic spread throughout the plant work groups.”

Kelly Cozby, safety and industrial hygiene superintendent, says she is encouraged by the maintenance group’s accomplishment. “We hope to see more success through our safety programs in the coming months. We want everyone to go home at the end of the day without an injury.”

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