Merck's Award-winning Energy Project Focuses on Partnerships While Benefiting the Environment Merck and Elizabethtown Gas Collaborate to Improve Air Quality July 3, 2007
Rahway/Linden, N.J.; July 3, 2007 – Continuing a long-standing partnership to improve air quality in New Jersey, Merck & Co., Inc., and Elizabethtown Gas partnered with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to bring four energy efficient micro-turbines into operation at Merck's Rahway/Linden site. The American Chemistry Council (ACC) recently announced that the micro-turbine project is a Responsible Care Energy Efficiency Award winner.
The project, which was dedicated on May 8, was a first for Merck and is important to the company because it benefits the environment, reduces energy needs, generates power and serves as an emergency back up generator.
"This project is a shining example of good engineering that benefits the environment," said Larry Naldi, Senior Vice President of Science & Technology for Merck. "Effective energy management helps the bottom line and protects our environment. Merck has aggressive goals to reduce its energy consumption 25 percent by 2008. This is just one of many initiatives underway at the Rahway site."
"Having another opportunity to work with Merck to meet their energy needs has been exciting," said Don Carter, vice president of operations and general manager at Elizabethtown Gas. "The turbines are just one of many projects Elizabethtown Gas supports to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote energy conservation."
The micro-turbines supply the Merck Rahway site with efficient electric energy that is also environmentally-friendly. The turbines run continuously, supplying one of the main laboratory buildings with power throughout the year, and if needed, serve as an efficient back up.
The turbines have replaced the high emission diesel fuel generators previously used, eliminating about 3,077 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year. As the turbines produce electricity, the waste heat generated is captured and beneficially used to heat water in the nearby research building, therefore, increasing the energy efficiency of the site. One of the critical advantages of using micro-turbine technology is that Merck's research building is powered independently of the consumer power grid.
Elizabethtown Gas worked closely with Merck to save energy resources and reduce Merck's carbon emissions. In 2002, Elizabethtown Gas and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities presented Merck with a $710,000 check to invest in an environmentally-friendly fuel cell. The fuel cell grant combined with the $780,000 micro-turbine award amounts to a nearly $1.5 million investment in innovative energy-saving technologies. Merck's Rahway/Linden site is home to the new energy-efficient electric car and the company's first solar panel project.
Merck's facility, which covers 210 acres in Rahway and Linden has been operating since 1903 and is integral to the company's research and manufacturing strategies, has been in the forefront of proactive energy-savings initiatives.
"We need to challenge ourselves to think creatively to meet business needs while being mindful of our impact to the environment, and the micro-turbine project is an excellent example of Merck meeting the challenge," said Mary T. Purves, Chairwoman of the Linden Environmental Commission and member of the Merck Community Advisory Panel, who attended the dedication.
About Merck & Co., Inc. Merck & Co., Inc. is a global research-driven pharmaceutical company dedicated to putting patients first. Established in 1891, Merck currently discovers, develops, manufactures and markets vaccines and medicines to address unmet medical needs. The Company devotes extensive efforts to increase access to medicines through far-reaching programs that not only donate Merck medicines but help deliver them to the people who need them. Merck also publishes unbiased health information as a not-for-profit service. For more information, visit www.merck.com.
About AGL Resources AGL Resources (NYSE: ATG), an Atlanta-based energy services company, serves more than 2.2 million customers in six states. The company also owns Houston-based Sequent Energy Management, an asset manager serving natural gas wholesale customers throughout the nation. As a 70 percent owner in the SouthStar partnership, AGL Resources markets natural gas to consumers in Georgia under the Georgia Natural Gas brand. The company also owns and operates Jefferson Island Storage & Hub, a high-deliverability natural gas storage facility near the Henry Hub in Louisiana. For more information, visit www.aglresources.com.
About Elizabethtown Gas
Elizabethtown Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of AGL Resources (NYSE: ATG), provides delivery service to more than 269,000 residential, business and industrial natural gas customers in New Jersey. In operation since 1855, the company serves parts of Union, Middlesex, Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon, Morris and Mercer counties. For more information, visit www.elizabethtowngas.com.
Contact: Patrice Harris, AGL Resource
pharris@aglresource.com
Office: 757-616-7533; Cell: 757-705-2447
24 hour Media line: 1-866-757-6646
Gail Driscoll, Merck & Co., Inc.
Public Affairs Manager
732-594-6492, gail_driscoll@merck.com