Utica, NY (WIBX) - Utica's F.X. Matt Brewery is saving money and taking pressure off of the city's sewers, thanks to its new biogas-to-power system.

The system injects bacteria into waste water created during the brewing process. Biogas is generated, then burned to create electricity.

According to Nick Matt, Chairman and CEO of the company, the 400 kilowatt system is capable of providing the company with more than a third of its daily power.

The $5 million green energy project was partially funded by NYSERDA and National Grid. For Matt, being green means saving money.

"If you put the incentives in the right place - if what we're trying to do is clean up the environment, we're trying to get people to do green projects - if you put the incentives in the right places, businesses will always do that," Matt said. "So, we're just following where the incentives go."

Frank Murray, President and CEO of New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), says anaerobic systems are becoming more commonplace.

"We're promoting this technology as a way of helping businesses and farmers reduce the cost of doing business," Murray said. "At the same time, [we're] helping them deal with some real environmental challenges that they have with operating their businesses or their farms," Murray said.

Matt says the project will save the Brewery about $350,000 a year, and should be paid off in five to six years.

More From WIBX 950