THE BUZZ ABOUT CARBON INTENSITY

Reducing the carbon intensity of the fuel produced at the Albert Lea plant is at the forefront of Mike Chandler’s mind. As the Plant Manager, Mike is responsible for everything that goes on in his facility. Reducing the carbon intensity of the energy which powers the facility saves the plant money, generates more revenue for the company, and supports the local community he’s called home for nearly 5 years. Creating a more economical and profitable operating environment also means more workers at the plant, more truck drivers needed to move the product, and more money being pumped into the local economy, a fact Mike takes great pride in.

So, what is carbon intensity (CI) and why is it so important to have a low CI score? Carbon intensity is a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere per unit of energy generated. This is the metric used in the biofuels industry to quantify the environmental impact of various fuel sources. Besides the obvious benefits of reducing greenhouse gas emissions overall, reducing the CI of the product is also incentivized in the biofuels marketplace, making it a valuable endeavor to undertake.