Baker Commodities, Inc. implemented the Kerman Energy Efficiency Upgrade Program to reduce costs, increase quality and efficiency, and lower polluting emissions. Baker upgraded its Kerman, California rendering and meat byproduct processing facility by replacing outdated, inefficient equipment with drop-in ready, commercially available technologies from California vendors. These energy-efficient upgrades, which included installing a high-efficiency boiler and a new metering hopper, were designed to reduce energy costs and improve the quality and consistency of production. Post-installation verification confirmed that the project achieved annual reductions of 2,891 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, more than double the original projection. The new boiler increased efficiency and reliability, while the metering hopper improved process control, stabilized throughput, and reduced energy demand. Together, these improvements reduced the facility’s reliance on fossil fuels, strengthened resilience, and helped sustain local employment. Importantly, the project—located in a low-income, disadvantaged community with a pollution burden in the 91st percentile—also delivered environmental and public health benefits by cutting criteria air pollutants and toxic air contaminants. Beyond the direct gains at the Kerman facility, Baker has shared lessons learned across its 20 United States locations and through national industry associations, encouraging broader adoption of energy-efficient technologies within the food processing sector. The project demonstrates how targeted investments can simultaneously advance decarbonization, improve industrial competitiveness, and bring meaningful benefits to California communities.
