Tate & Lyle PLC (Tate & Lyle) is pleased to announce that its Lafayette South corn wetmill in Lafayette, Indiana, US, has earned ENERGY STAR certification by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in recognition of its superior energy efficiency performance.

This is the third consecutive year the Lafayette South plant, which produces high quality corn-based sweeteners, has received ENERGY STAR certification. At this plant, in recent years Tate & Lyle has adapted the air emission control technology to include regenerative thermal oxidizers (RTOs), equipment that treats exhaust air before it enters the atmosphere. Although a benefit for the environment and community, operating RTOs increases energy use at the site. The team at Lafayette South took steps to offset the additional energy use from this protective environmental process, including capital investments and process improvements to reuse energy within the production cycle where possible, limiting waste.

Tate & Lyle’s facility in Loudon, Tennessee, has also received the ENERGY STAR certification, helped by the completion of the site’s co-generation facility early last year. The new natural gas-fired combined heat and power system not only improves energy and operational efficiency at the Loudon facility, but also reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

“We are very proud to receive this ENERGY STAR certification, which is a high honor for corn wetmills," said Travis Montoya, plant manager, Tate & Lyle Lafayette South. "To receive it for three consecutive years is a true testament to the efforts of all the employees at our plant. Tate & Lyle has invested significantly in Lafayette South and, in doing so, taken substantial steps to continually improve the plant’s environmental performance.

“The Lafayette South and Loudon plants have been awarded the 2017 ENERGY STAR by the U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA) for superior energy performance," said Jean Lupinacci, chief of the ENERGY STAR Commercial & Industrial Branch. "The ENERGY STAR is the distinguishing mark of energy efficiency for Wet Corn Mill plants in the United States and identifies these plants’ status amongst the most energy efficient based on their performance on EPA’s ENERGY STAR energy performance scale. The employees at these Wet Corn Mill plants should be commended for their ability to reduce energy use and protect the environment through energy efficiency.”