ActOnEnergy, Cabot Corporation Team Up On Major Energy Efficiency Initiatives

TUSCOLA, Ill., Oct. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Ameren Illinois ActOnEnergy® program announced Cabot Corporation (NYSE: CBT) has been awarded a total of $271,000 in ActOnEnergy incentives for sustainable energy efficiency projects at their Tuscola plant.

At the same time, ActOnEnergy reported that a total of $18 million in incentives is available for business energy efficiency projects completed between June 1, 2011 and May 31, 2012. Applications are now being accepted.

"Cabot Corporation is to be congratulated for its aggressive and creative sustainability initiative that has significantly reduced their electricity usage," said Cheryl A. Miller, ActOnEnergy business program manager. "Cabot's leadership will encourage other businesses to participate in ActOnEnergy and invest in sustainable energy efficiency projects."

Cabot's energy efficiency projects have reduced the Tuscola plant's annual energy consumption by about 4,000,000 kilowatt-hours (kWhs), an amount equal to the electricity used by 400 typical residential customers in a year, or about 10 percent of Tuscola's households.

"The ActOnEnergy business initiatives serve as an important driver of economic growth and development. That is good news for Cabot's 170 employees in Tuscola, this community, Cabot's customers and the entire state," Miller said.

Cabot has used its ActOnEnergy incentives for lighting and compressed air system projects at Tuscola. The facility opened in 1958 and was the first Cabot plant to produce fumed metal oxides and hydrochloric acid.

"We thank the Ameren Illinois ActOnEnergy program for partnering with us to make this a very successful initiative," said Carl Troike, Cabot Corporation's Tuscola facility manager.

"Cabot Corporation has been striving to improve its performance in sustainability. Each Cabot facility has its own initiatives to support the overall company goals of improving environmental performance, safety and sustainability in general.

"Our Tuscola facility has experience with going above and beyond compliance, such as reducing emissions in advance of regulatory deadlines. Pursuing sustainability projects was a natural next step for this facility," Troike said.

"Facility leadership worked to make the resources available to achieve sustainability goals and facility personnel have been proudly involved in bringing the concepts to reality. As a result of this commitment and with the partnership of the Ameren Illinois ActOnEnergy program, we have successfully completed key energy and cost efficiency projects," Troike said.

Since ActOnEnergy was launched in 2008, the amount of annual business incentive dollars has grown from $3 million to $18 million. The energy efficiency program is funded through a small charge, Rider EDR, on customer electric bills and Rider GER on customer natural gas bills. This charge is mandated by state law.

ActOnEnergy offers incentive programs and advice for businesses of all sizes and types. Complete business program information is available at ActOnEnergy.com, by calling 1-866-800-0747 or by sending an e-mail to [email protected].

In addition to the business programs, ActOnEnergy offers incentives and rebates to residential customers. For more information on residential programs, visit ActOnEnergy.com, call 1-866-838-6918 or send an e-mail to: [email protected].

Cabot's Tuscola facility produces fumed silica, which is an ultra-fine, high-purity particle used as a reinforcing, thickening, abrasive, thixotropic, suspending or anti-caking agent. The material is highly versatile and is used in a wide-range of end-market applications for the automotive, construction, microelectronics and consumer products industries. Fumed silica helps improve the performance of adhesives, sealants, cosmetics, inks, toners, silicone rubber, coatings, polishing slurries and pharmaceuticals.

Ameren Illinois delivers energy to 1.2 million electric and 813,000 natural gas customers in downstate Illinois, and our mission is to meet their energy needs in a safe, reliable, efficient and environmentally responsible manner. Our service area covers more than 1,200 communities and 43,700 square miles. For more information, visit AmerenIllinois.com.

SOURCE Ameren Illinois