General Mills Builds First U.S. Solar-Powered Plant
Original Source: http://www.sustainablelifemedia.com
Author: Thomas Miner
Original Publication Date: July 30, 2010
July 30, 2010 – General Mills announced the completion of a major solar energy initiative yesterday as its Methuen, Massachusetts facility became the first in the company to produce its own electricity via solar power. The installation is expected to provide 80% of the facilities energy needs in the summer and 40% during winter months.
While the Methuen facility is the first in the U.S. to produce its own energy using photovoltaics, other global facilities have institutedrenewable energy projects and innovative energy reclamation initiatives. The companies’ San Adrian, Spain, facility receives 100% of its electricity and one third of its overall energy from renewable energy sources such as wind power. The company is also constructing a biomass burner at its oat-milling facility in Fridley, Minn., that will burn leftover oat hulls from the milling process to produce about 90 percent of the steam needed to heat the plant and make oat flour.
The solar installation in Methuen will produce the following benefits for the General Mills:
- The panels provide a year-round average of 55 percent of the annual electricity consumed by the warehouse building. (80% in summer months, 40% in winter months)
- The panels generate enough electricity (110.7 kilowatts) to power approximately 12 average Massachusetts homes every year
- Solar power will offset more than 112,000 lbs of carbon dioxide annually – this is the equivalent of taking 10 cars off the road.
To learn more about General Mills’ environmental and socialsustainability projects, please visit their sustainability pages here.
