The Company’s fertilizer plant in Pocatello has been recognized by the U. S. Department of Energy for a large reduction in natural gas usage.

The plant recently was added to a select list of 112 industrial plants in the country that have been given the federal government’s Energy Saver Plant award.

The reduction was caused mainly by improved steam plant operations, according to senior project engineer Steve Sternberg.

“The assessment showed that the steam produced as a by-product of sulfuric acid production is quite valuable when it can be put to use instead of utilizing steam produced in a natural-gas-fired boiler,” he said. “We were able to reduce steam venting, increase condensate water return, and decrease operation of the stand-by boilers.”

Production, maintenance, and engineering employees worked together to make possible the savings that resulted in winning the award.