National Grid's Strategic Energy Management Partnership Improves Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy Use for Commercial Customers

November 12, 2020 /3BL Media/ - National Grid, through its Strategic Energy Management Partnership, is supporting commercial and industrial customers across upstate New York state with energy use planning.  Among the customers who are collaborating with National Grid on this initiative is Niagara Falls based Greenpac Mill, which is seeking to lower operating costs, improve system efficiencies and  achieve its renewable energy targets. 

Through SEMP, Greenpac Mill, a manufacturer of lightweight,100 percent recycled linerboard,  has adopted a strategic energy management plan that includes an integrated approach to all aspects  of energy and environmental management as well as short- and long-term reduction strategies. By  partnering with National Grid, GreenPac Mill has access to a variety of tracking and reporting  services, as well as direct access to other National Grid programs, some of which offer financial  assistance. In addition, SEMP participants can benefit from National Grid’s demand analysis, which helps customers identify various equipment operation issues and verify the results of implementing  increased equipment controls to address those issues. 

“This is a great opportunity for National Grid to work with state resources and our customers  to improve energy efficiency and reduce overall demand while providing cost-saving opportunities to  large customers,” said Melanie Littlejohn, National Grid vice president for customer and community.  The SEMP initiative also provides guidance for:  

• Decreased operating costs via energy efficiency. 
• Electric vehicle fleet conversion. 
• On-site EV charging capability. 
• Installing on-site renewable energy use. 
• Electric energy storage system deployment. 
• Sustainability goal support such as carbon reduction. 
• Cost reduction through load shifting and demand response. 

Customers who enroll in NYSERDA programs and National Grid’s SEMP initiative can reap  multiple benefits 

In addition to National Grid’s SEMP initiative, Greenpac Mill also participated in two programs  administered by New York State Energy Research and Development Authority: Strategic Energy  Management and On-site Energy Manager. The Strategic Energy Management program provides  tools, training, an energy coach and peer-to-peer cohort best practice sharing. Meanwhile, the On-site  Energy Manager program provides cost-share for industrial, commercial, and multifamily facilities to  hire a dedicated on-site energy manager, use an energy contractor, or a hybrid thereof. NYSERDA  shares the cost of the energy manager with the customer. Greenpac Mill used the On-site Energy  Manager model to hire a consultant and identify multiple electricity use reduction opportunities.  

These programs helped Greenpac Mill establish an energy team, identify energy savings  opportunities and create a long-term energy management strategy to work toward achieving its goal  of reducing overall plant energy consumption by five percent.  

“Together, NYSERDA and National Grid have supported the components of Greenpac Mill’s  sustainability and energy conservation efforts through electricity use reduction and efficiency  improvements,” said Craig Eddy, Greenpac Mill’s project leader - operations, whose responsibilities  include energy conservation at the Niagara Falls facility. 

Eddy said that NYSERDA’s OsEM program provided an extra set of hands to chip away at  what became a long list of cost and energy-saving initiatives. Greenpac Mill has enjoyed a long  relationship with National Grid, including participating in the SEMP initiative, which he referred to  as an extension of NYSERDA’s OsEM program. 

“After working with NYSERDA’s On-site Energy Manager program, transitioning to National  Grid’s SEMP initiative was a natural next step to keep things moving along,” Eddy said. “We often  found that we had a lot of great cost and energy-saving ideas but few resources to execute them. But  both of NYSERDA’s programs have been great. They helped us generate ideas and develop project  plans. National Grid is helping us execute those plans by providing additional financial resources.”  

“Private-public partnerships present a critical vehicle to helping the state move toward the  achievement of Governor Cuomo’s nation-leading clean energy and climate goals,” said NYSERDA’s  President and acting CEO Doreen M. Harris. “Greenpac Mill’s commitment to increasing energy  efficiency and reducing electricity consumption through these programs will serve as an example for  other New York businesses that want to lower their operating costs and be part of the climate  solution.” 

As one of the largest energy companies in the northeast, National Grid plays a vital role in  connecting millions of people to the energy that they use and rely upon every single day. The  company recently released its Net Zero by 2050 Plan, aimed at achieving net zero by 2050,  including emissions from the transmission and delivery of electricity and gas to customers. The  plan builds on the company’s Responsible Business Charter which established National Grid’s commitments to the environment, employees, customers, and communities. Over the last three  years, across upstate New York, National Grid has spent nearly $15 million on incentives for a  variety of energy efficiency projects. These projects have saved nearly 964,000 megawatt hours of  electricity which, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration, is the amount of electricity  consumed by approximately 88,000 U.S. homes in 2018. 

Those who would like to learn more about NYSERDA’s programs or National Grid’s SEMP  initiative should contact their National Grid or NYSERDA representatives. NYSERDA’s programs are  available to industrial facilities throughout the state, while National Grid’s SEMP initiative is available  to large industrial customers across National Grid’s upstate New York service area.  

About National Grid

National Grid (NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. National Grid is transforming our electricity and natural gas networks with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions to meet the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 

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CONTACT: David Bertola 716-831-7136