Page 22 - LRCC August FOCUS 2023

Sustainability: Protecting the Planet is Good Business

In 2014, ITC implemented a Fleet Vehicle Idle Policy workforce with cutting-edge skills
designed to reduce operational costs, decrease adverse committed to the community, driving
environmental impacts, and further ITC’s commitment economic growth and leading
to responsible business practices by reducing idling by 10 environmental stewardship,” said Dick
minutes per day per vehicle. Peffley, general manager, BWL.

“We are saving an estimated 27,000 gallons of fuel and BWL has been a leader in a
reducing air pollutants by 240 metric tons annually,” said commitment to environmental
Adarkwa. “We are also starting to retrofit vehicles with stewardship and has successfully
a job site management system (JSMS), which switches ceased coal generation in Lansing. PEFFLEY
to battery technology when the vehicle is in idle mode To achieve these goals, BWL
and runs ancillary features like vehicle lighting and expanded investments in solar and wind energy,
heating and cooling.” From August 2022-Decemeber ramped-up energy efficiency programming, and
2022, the implementation of the JSMS system resulted implemented new technologies that help customers
in an additional savings of 1,000 gallons of gasoline and a manage their energy needs.
reduction of 11 tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2007, BWL became the first utility of the State of
“This is one of the better programs in the country and Michigan to adopt a renewable energy portfolio. 16 years
is one that others in the utility space are beginning to later, BWL has an impressive portfolio of renewables
adopt,” said Adarkwa. including 100 MW of solar. The 24 MW Delta Township
solar array is one of the largest tracking in the state. BWL
Lansing Board of Water & Light: Utility of also owns 67 MW of wind energy between projects in
Today, Transforming Tomorrow Ithaca and Oscola county.

The Lansing Board of Water & Light (BWL) announced last “That puts us on track to have 50% clean energy by 2030,”
year the company would be embarking on a new journey said Peffley.
they have dubbed “Utility of Today, Transforming Tomorrow.”
BWL has also adopted a number of aggressive energy
“What that means is that we are a safe, affordable efficiency programs, involving residential, commercial and
utility delivering reliable service by an engaged, diverse industrial customers. BWL has consistently exceeded state

"Sustainability is also

critical for any organization

concerned about its ability to attract and retain talent.
40% of millennials have taken a job because of

a company’s sustainability

credentials and would take a pay cut

to work at an environmentally
responsible

business."

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