ENERGY STAR OIL REFINERY

Credit where credit is due: They're doing what they do best. The rest is up to us.

ConocoPhillips refinery gets EPA’s energy efficiency award
Clair Johnson, April 11, 2007 (Billings Gazette)

WHO
ConocoPhillips’ Billings, Montana oil refinery.

WHAT
The refinery is the first in the US to be awarded the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star for meeting strict efficiency guidelines.

WHEN
The award was made the week of April 11, 2007.

WHERE
Billings, Montana.

WHY
- The Billings refinery’s efficiency techniques are common but aggressively applied. It is instituting co-generation, for example: The capture of waste heat from a boiler to generate steam to run an electricity-generating turbine for operational power. It is using conset-decree requirements under the Clean Air Act to meet energy-efficiency standards. - ConocoPhillips, the nation’s second largest oil refiner, has set a goal for its 12 US refineries to reduce energy consumption 10% by 2012. ConocoPhillips joined USCAPS (major corporations and environmental groups) urging Congress to require limits on greenhouse gases tied to global warming.

QUOTES
- Robert E. Roberts, EPA Region 8/Denver administrator: "This is a big deal…This is not just another award EPA gives in the hopes people will love EPA."
- Mike Wirkowski, refinery manager: "We all have a responsibility to use energy wisely…"
- Larry Ziemba, ConocoPhillips president of U.S. refining: “ConocoPhillips is committed to lowering emissions…the company wants to take the lead role."