Frito-Lay's Killingly Facility 'Gets Off the Grid'

PepsiCo's Frito-Lay Killingly, Conn., manufacturing facility today celebrated the inauguration of its Co-Generation system, which will generate almost 100% of the site's electrical requirements. To maximize the system, the facility will utilize the waste heat generated to produce steam to help with the manufacturing of snack products made there. The implementation of this new system is another step to help the site reduce its environmental footprint and help alleviate the significant load already on the heavily congested northeast power grid.

Frito-Lay's long standing commitment to sustainability is to continuously develop and implement innovative programs that will minimize our environmental impact and reduce our use of precious resources. Over the years, the company has voluntarily developed and implemented programs that have significantly reduced our use of water, fuels and electricity.

"Today's launch of the Co-Gen system is an example of sustainability and partnership in action,"said Leslie Starr Keating, senior vice president, operations, Frito-Lay North America. "Working with the state of Connecticut and the Department of Energy, we are able to invest in sustainable business practices that benefit this community and the country by providing relief to the northeast power grid and using technologies with a lower environmental impact."

Frito-Lay Killingly was able to complete this project through the support of the State of Connecticut and the Department of Energy (DOE). The State grant was awarded as part of the Energy Independence Act, which was designed to encourage businesses and government agencies to install these types of innovative systems to help alleviate the demands on the Northeast power grid.