WORCESTER, Mass. - A new $22M electrical powerhouse will help reduce Saint Gobain's carbon dioxide emissions in Worcester by 50%.

It will rely on a natural gas turbine to produce electricity, which will be distributed across the campus.

A portion of the turbine’s exhaust gas will be captured and reused to reduce emissions and further improve efficiency.

The new powerhouse will be connected to the site’s local electrical grid, allowing the turbine to also provide electricity to nearby neighborhoods in case of a power outage or natural disaster.

The company said it's a strategic investment in the future of their operations in Worcester.

“We’ve been on this campus for 137 years,” said Patrick Dwyer, the company’s vice president. “Worcester is a vital part for this business. We employ roughly 1,000 people here on campus and this reinforces our commitment to the City of Worcester as well as our employees on campus.”

“I’ve been with the company now for 32 years and it’s fantastic to look at the investment we’re making in manufacturing jobs here in Worcester,” said Patrick Redington, the general manager for the abrasives division at the Worcester manufacturing plant. “New technology, reducing our carbon footprint, overall efficiency. Overall it’s fantastic. Fantastic to be part of it.”

The investment comes as the company continues to roll out its global Grow and Impact Strategy, which includes striving towards carbon neutrality by the year 2050.