MARQUETTE — The Michigan Energy Office has awarded Bell Forest Products Inc. of Ishpeming a $9,844 rebate for energy efficiency improvements.

“Bell Forest Products was part of the Small Manufacturers Energy Waste Reduction Incentive pilot program. The company will apply spray foam insulation to their lumber kilns, add variable frequency drives to their lumber processing equipment, and upgrade some of their lighting to LEDs with sensor controls,” explained Robert Jackson, director of the MEO, which is part of the Michigan Agency for Energy, in a press release.

“Energy waste reduction activities in the Upper Peninsula are an important part of MAE’s focus to help businesses reduce their energy use and lower their costs, making them more competitive,” said Madhu Anderson, MAE’s deputy director.

“We’re very grateful to Upper Peninsula Power Company for making us aware of the MEO rebate, which was matched by Bell Forest Products,” said Boone Bell, president of the company. “The upgrades to our facility will reduce our carbon footprint through lower energy consumption in our kiln, warehouse lighting and dust collection systems.”

The company’s annual electricity usage and cost savings are 67,000 kilowatt-hours and $9,000 respectively.