Brown-Forman will aim to source more than 90% of its annual electricity usage in the US from a new wind power plant in Kansas.
The spirits and wine company has signed an agreement to purchase 30 megawatts of electricity annually from Solomon Forks Wind Project in the US state.
Brown-Forman will purchase the wind power generated over the next 15 years and retain ownership of the resulting renewable energy credits to offset the greenhouse gas emissions from electricity usage at its US facilities. The electricity generated by the wind farm will then be sold on the wholesale market.
The Solomon Forks Wind Project is located on over 50,000 acres of land near the city of Colby in northwestern Kansas. Construction activities for the entire project are due to start this year with commercial operation targeted for 2019.
Brown-Forman vice president of corporate responsibility Rob Frederick said: “It takes energy to distil and produce our high-quality spirits and wines. This new wind project will add new renewable energy capacity to the grid and demonstrates our commitment to a lower carbon economy. We believe that renewable energy is a prime solution for a sustainable energy future.”
Schneider Electric’s Energy & Sustainability Services worked with Brown-Forman to identify and evaluate options and arrange the deal. The project is supported by a power purchase agreement between Brown-Forman and Infinity Renewables, the developer of Solomon Forks Wind Project.
Steve Wilhite, senior vice president of energy and sustainability services at Schneider Electric, said: “This partnership demonstrates how forward-looking companies like Brown-Forman are approaching their energy use, and leading the way with their investment in low-cost, clean energy that is both good for their business and society.”
In 2012, Brown-Forman set a series of environmental goals, including adopting a target to reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 15% by 2023. The company said the power purchase agreement will enable it to meet this target once construction of the Solomon Forks Wind Project is complete.
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