RG&E’s Business Incentive Programs Help Local Company Invest in Clean Manufacturing Initiatives

Rochester Optical received more than $597,000 in RG&E rebates for projects


More than 200 businesses in Rochester region have benefited from utility’s business incentives in the past year

 

ROCHESTER, NY — September 26, 2023 — Rochester Gas and Electric’s (RG&E) business incentive programs are helping local businesses invest in clean manufacturing initiatives. Rochester Optical, Inc. received more than $597,000 in rebates from RG&E to start renovations on an existing vacant facility in Rochester.

“The investments at Rochester Optical illustrates the importance of economic development. Rochester Optical received RG&E Clean Heat, Commercial and Industrial Energy Efficiency, and make ready rebates in addition to the RG&E Economic Development program incentive,” said Joe Sayre, senior economic development specialist for RG&E. “We offer many incentives for local businesses, which are then invested back into the community, in this case it’s jobs and a necessary product used across the country.” 

Rochester Optical makes prescription eyeglasses, shipping them across the U.S. The company spent more than $10 million to transform its business and the facility into a new manufacturing plant that can utilize clean energy. Rochester Optical redeveloped the building’s electric infrastructure, converted the existing natural gas system, and installed six new EV chargers. 

The expansion enabled Rochester Optical to almost double production of its eyeglasses, from 800 per day, to 1,500. The Company’s CEO says learning about those incentives encouraged him to make the investments.

“I believe clean energy is the future,” said Patrick Ho, CEO of Rochester Optical. “We wanted this project to completely decarbonize our facility and incentives from RG&E helped make this possible. It was important to be able to tell our customers that our facility and manufacturing process would not increase their carbon footprint. We deliver our products locally in electric vehicles, and we encourage our employees to drive electric vehicles to help further reduce our carbon footprint. We wanted to make this change as holistic as possible.”

RG&E is planning to make more than $2.2 billion in investments over the next five years, part of the Company’s commitment to help drive economic development in our region.

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