The processor joined efforts with Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) through its Energy Efficiency Calculated Incentive Program to build an efficient, green plant on a renovated site in PanoramaCity. Previously a General Motors plant, Mission Foods transformed this 200,000-sq.-ft. facility into a LEED Gold-certified building. Receiving design assistance from SoCalGas, as well as $45,000 in financial incentives to install preheated combustion air technology for corn and flour tortilla ovens and preheated cooking oil systems for fryers, the Panorama plant saves approximately 250,000 therms (1 therm = 100,000 BTU) of natural gas and avoids more than 1,300 metric tons of direct carbon emissions per year.
“Working with SoCalGas has helped us to lower our manufacturing and energy costs,” says Lucy Gonzalez, vice president of sustainability, Mission Foods. “We are committed to creating sustainable operations-not just lowering costs, but also reducing our carbon footprint.”