Lindt USA Cocoa Bean Shells Help Produce Renewable Energy

STRATHAM, N.H., Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Lindt USA, the world's leading producer of premium chocolate, and Public Service of New Hampshire (PSNH), New Hampshire's largest electric utility, today announce a partnership helping to produce renewable power in New Hampshire.  The chocolate company will provide PSNH with cocoa bean shells which will be burned to produce electricity.  

Lindt, based in Stratham, N.H., is one of the only U.S. chocolate manufacturers to manage the chocolate making process from raw material to final creations.  During chocolate production, raw cocoa beans are roasted and crushed, extracting a richly-flavored pulp which is blended with a variety of fine ingredients, depending on the recipe.  As a result, the cocoa bean shells become a byproduct and in the state of New Hampshire they are a designated biomass fuel source.  Lindt will now deliver the shells to PSNH's Schiller Station power plant in Portsmouth, N.H., to be used as a supplementary fuel source.

"Lindt controls every aspect of the chocolate making process, from the choice of cocoa beans to the finished product," said Thomas Linemayr, chief executive officer and president, Lindt USA.  "Our partnership with PSNH provides us with an opportunity to reduce our carbon footprint by disposing of a byproduct in a responsible manner."

The cocoa bean shell concept was first tested in March 2009 and is now being officially implemented following approval from New Hampshire's Department of Environmental Services.  The burning of biomass, such as cocoa bean shells, reduces the amount of carbon dioxide a power plant would otherwise emit through the burning of fossil fuels.

"This is one of many steps we've taken to continuously improve our environmental programs," said Bill Smagula, PSNH Director – Generation.  "It will allow us, with the help of Lindt, to replace a portion of coal with a portion of biomass, and that's another step in the right direction."  According to Smagula, every ton of cocoa bean shells used to generate electricity for PSNH customers will displace the need to burn one half-ton of coal.  

For more information on Lindt, please visit www.lindt.com.  For further details on the renewable power partnership, please visit www.psnh.com.  

About Lindt & Sprungli

Founded in 1845, Lindt & Sprungli is a global leader in the premium chocolate category, offering high-quality products in more than 80 countries.  Lindt & Sprungli operates eight production facilities in Europe and the United States and employs 6,300 worldwide.  Lindt USA operates more than 70 retail stores throughout the country and maintains wide distribution through extensive retail and wholesale channels.  For more information on Lindt, visit www.lindt.com.

About Public Service of New Hampshire

Public Service of New Hampshire (PSNH) is New Hampshire's largest electric utility, generating and distributing clean electricity for more than 490,000 homes and businesses in an environmentally friendly manner.  Each year, PSNH supports dozens of forest protection, energy conservation, and environmental organizations through both financial contributions and generous employee volunteerism.  PSNH is proud of its commitment to the environment and willingness to create innovative solutions to environmental issues.  For more information on PSNH, please visit www.psnh.com.

SOURCE Lindt & Sprungli