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November 14, 2007
The Net Zero Potato Chip
As we have written recently, the issue of climate change continues to garner significant attention in the news. In a piece for publication in tomorrow's NY Times, Andrew Martin highlights a very interesting new project being undertaken by Frito-Lay -- the eco-friendly potato chip factory.
Frito-Lay has already been a leader in efforts to improve energy efficiency, reducing its water use by 38%, natural gas use by 27% and electricity consumption by 21% since 1999. Now it is beginning an ambitious project at its Casa Grande, AZ factory -- to make the facility, which makes 212 million bags of chips each year, a "net zero" energy user.
The goal requires significant initial cost, and will not be easy to attain, but the fact that it is being attempted is exciting and emphasizes what for us is an extremely important aspect of efforts to combat climate change -- market-driven solutions.
While we believe government must play a role in nudging the nation towards more responsible behavior, particularly where vehicle fuel economy standards are concerned, the biggest strides are likely to be made if the private sector leads the way. Certainly, rapidly rising energy costs have already been a catalyst for change.
It is a worrisome time for inhabitants of this fragile planet, but it is also an exciting time in many ways. We are believers in humanity's ability to innovate its way out of the climate crisis we face, and we salute the efforts of those companies, such as Frito-Lay, who are leading the way.
Posted by houtopia at November 14, 2007 10:04 PM