The Monarch Cement Co. celebrated the completion of a new solar array with a ribbon-cutting ceremony held on May 23 at its Humboldt, Kan., facility, reported The Chanute Tribune.
Monarch partnered with Evergy Energy Solutions for the project, which took three years to complete. The 97-acre solar farm has the potential to produce up to one-third of the cement plant’s energy needs. It has a capacity of 20 MW of direct current and 17.4 MW of alternating current power.
Kent A. Webber, president of Monarch, said the project emphasizes the company’s commitment to clean energy, and upholding its environmentally conscious reputation. Monarch has a goal of achieving carbon neutrality in 2050.
In addition to decreasing carbon emissions needed to produce power for the plant, the solar farm will also decrease the water demand needed to produce power.
“It is good for all parties involved,” Webber said. “This is truly one of those projects you can’t find a flaw in.”
