New equipment installed at M-I SWACO’s processing facility in Battle Mountain is expected to reduce the plant’s annual electricity usage by about 278,300 kilowatt hours. That’s enough energy to power approximately 30 northern Nevada homes for a year, and equivalent to reducing 208 tons of carbon emissions.

M-I SWACO achieved the savings by retrofitting one of the plant’s 200-horsepower air compressors with a variable speed drive that operates the compressor’s electric motor more efficiently. Besides reducing the plant’s energy costs, M-I SWACO received a $16,657 rebate from NV Energy’s Sure Bet energy efficiency program for commercial electric customers.

The Sure Bet Program offers cash incentives and technical assistance to NV Energy’s commercial electric and natural gas customers to help them improve energy efficiency, cut operating costs and save money on energy bills.

At the Battle Mountain plant, M-I SWACO produces drilling fluids from barite mined in Lander County. The fluids are processed and packaged at the Battle Mountain processing facility and shipped to customers throughout the world. Drilling fluid is used by oil and natural gas drilling rigs.