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By Ryan Cummings
13 News
CHICAGO - About two weeks ago ComEd decided to go green by putting something new inside its pole-top transformers. Not only will it save money, but it will help the environment too!
The new transformers went up in Mokena, Illinois on February 13th. They may look like ordinary models but inside is something new. "ComEd is always looking for ways to improve both our operational and our environmental performance," says Michael McMahan, Vice President of Technical Services.
The environmental performance McMahan's talking about is enhanced by soybean oil, an insulation fluid that will take the place of 56,000 gallons of petroleum based mineral oil every year. That would reduce greenhouse gases and lower the use of carbon. "It's biodegradable," says McMahan. "It's renewable and it's homegrown right here in the state of Illinois."
Com-Ed is also reducing climate impact using hybrid vehicles, cars that run on alternative fuels, cutting back on energy at its facilities, and recycling. ComEd plans to buy about 4000 of the soybean oil transformers every year. Illinois soybean farmers will ultimately benefit because in order to fill those new units, 50,000 bushels of soybeans will have to be harvested. Not only will they help the environment but they'll save money too. "It has some technical benefits as well," says McMahan. "Soy oil may extend the life of our transformers which in the long-term could improve our cost-efficiency as well as increase the reliability to our customers."
New transformers aren't up around Rockford yet but they will be used the next time new units need to go up or be repaired.
[Source:/www.wrex.com]
Quoting from [emily blunt]:please add the link to the original postingBy Ryan Cummings
13 News
CHICAGO - About two weeks ago ComEd decided to go green by putting something new inside its pole-top transformers. Not only will it save money, but it will help the environment too!
The new transformers went up in Mokena, Illinois on February 13th. They may look like ordinary models but inside is something new. "ComEd is always looking for ways to improve both our operational and our environmental performance," says Michael McMahan, Vice President of Technical Services.
The environmental performance McMahan's talking about is enhanced by soybean oil, an insulation fluid that will take the place of 56,000 gallons of petroleum based mineral oil every year. That would reduce greenhouse gases and lower the use of carbon. "It's biodegradable," says McMahan. "It's renewable and it's homegrown right here in the state of Illinois."
Com-Ed is also reducing climate impact using hybrid vehicles, cars that run on alternative fuels, cutting back on energy at its facilities, and recycling. ComEd plans to buy about 4000 of the soybean oil transformers every year. Illinois soybean farmers will ultimately benefit because in order to fill those new units, 50,000 bushels of soybeans will have to be harvested. Not only will they help the environment but they'll save money too. "It has some technical benefits as well," says McMahan. "Soy oil may extend the life of our transformers which in the long-term could improve our cost-efficiency as well as increase the reliability to our customers."
New transformers aren't up around Rockford yet but they will be used the next time new units need to go up or be repaired.