Holcim US entered into its first virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) linked to renewable energy generation. Through the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) agreement at least 38% of the company’s total power consumption at all of its Texas production facilities will be from renewable energy generated at a large wind farm in Coke County.
The agreement complements Holcim’s ongoing investment in on-site renewable energy generation, participation in community solar farms, and significant gains from electrical efficiency investments.
“Holcim US is driving forward momentum to meet our Green Growth Strategy goals by incorporating new technologies and processes at every level,” said Atl Martinez, vice president, procurement, Holcim North America. “We’re increasing the energy efficiency of our operations to use less energy while accomplishing more. From our largest cement plants to our aggregate sites, terminal sites and offices, we’re looking at our full environmental impact and optimizing in every area we can.”
Through several wind and solar contracts on the horizon, Holcim US is set to avoid an estimated 5,000,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions.
Holcim US currently generates on-site renewable energy in Paulding, Ohio, with three wind turbines generating up to 4.5 MW of power, and in Hagerstown, Md., with a 10 MW solar array, which reduces CO2 emissions by 28,000,000 lb. annually. Additionally, a total of 68 MW of solar arrays are under contract in Colorado, Michigan and Arkansas, along with a 40-MW battery storage system in Colorado.
