Graymont Lime Plant Announces Carbon Reduction Grant Program
 | Author:
Nancy Marks
Nancy Marks: MT43 News Secretary and News Editor |
Paul Liner, manager of the Graymont Western, Inc. Indian Creek lime plant near Townsend, announced this week the company has launched a grant program to help support local projects that help combat global warming.
“This new community-focused fund is part of our efforts to de-carbonize and is designed to support the development of carbon-reduction initiatives in the communities we operate in throughout North America,” according to the information release.
The grant program is offered in 17 communities in the U.S. and Canada. Liner emphasized the deadline for submitting a grant application is Sept. 30.
“We are encouraging folks who qualify to put in their applications for grant monies as soon as possible. Successful grant applications will be awarded Oct. 31st.”
Graymont’s Health, Safety and Environmental Specialist Steve Bugni, will be the local contact for grant applications.
“The requested fund amount is not limited. Just so the projects meet the criteria on the grant proposal,” Bugni emphasized.
Potential grant supported projects in the county mentioned were energy reduction practices in building proposals, tree planting and maintaining tree cover in the county, or installing upgrades such as LED lighting or energy efficient appliances in a home. Using no-till drills and planting pulse crops to cut down on use of fertilizer to build up soil would allow farmers and ranchers to qualify for a grant.
Why Graymont? Why now?
Graymont intends to reduce its carbon emissions to zero by 2050 according to Bugni.
Liner said Graymont “is very aware of our social responsibility in cutting our carbon emissions or supporting others to help us mitigate our carbon footprint. We face steep regulations already in Canada. Graymont is now being charged financial penalties there. We know those regulations are coming in the U.S. We want to be ahead of the game by having a program in place to help cut those emissions.”
Currently, Graymont emits 320,000 metric tons of carbon each year: clouds of carbon come from its stacks and its equipment through burning propane and coal. Liner said the plant burns coal to run its kilns in the process of cooking the limestone which is converted into quicklime. Quicklime is used to make concrete and other products. Much of the lime goes to the Alberta, Canada tar sands and to many gold mines in the West where lime is used as a neutralization process for acidic runoff.
Lime is essential for reducing gases in power plants and hazardous waste incinerators. It also absorbs and neutralizes sulfur oxides which helps prevent acid rain, according to Graymont’s website. The products are used for water softening and are a cost-effective method for treating sewage sludge and animal waste from concentrated animal feeding facilities.
Montana Resources Mines in Butte is one of our biggest customers, Liner said. Various forms of processed lime are used in road stabilization and for making paper. As many Broadwater County residents have noticed, the product is hauled 24 hours a day by truck and by railroad car. The Indian Creek plant employs 40 people, plus 30 truck drivers who work for Quarry Services of Billings.
What does Graymont plan to do for its own part in reducing carbon emissions? Bugni explained carbon capture ideas the corporation is planning to implement. One would be to treat the gas coming out of the stack. The second idea would be to inject the gas into the ground. A very small amount of carbon dioxide is used in carbonated drinks such as at soda fountains and in beer which Graymont can sell.
For more information on the grant program, or an application form, please contact Bugni at his email sbugni@graymont.com or call (406) 521-6003. 204 Broadway • 266-5588TownsendHardwareHistoric
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PhotoCredit: Nancy Marks
Image 1 Caption: Graymont Plant Manager Paul Liner.
Image 2 Caption: Graymont Lime Plant.
