US energy company Evergy is to supply 55MW of electricity to Textron Aviation from the 300MW Soldier Creek wind farm in Kansas under a multi-year power purchase agreement.
The PPA covers almost all Textron’s electricity needs at its facilities in Wichita and Independence, Kansas.
Textron builds Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker aircraft.
Soldier Creek is currently under construction in Nemaha County and is due online by the end of the year.
Textron Aviation senior vice president of operations Brad White said: “The purchase of renewable energy demonstrates our commitment to a more sustainable future for our employees, communities and customers.
“Textron Aviation claims nearly 20% of the zero-emission and renewable energy generated by the Soldier Creek Wind Energy Center.”
The deal has been made possible by the Direct Renewable Participation Service tariff passed by the Kansas Corporation Commission in July 2018, which enables large commercial and industrial customers to access wind energy at lower rates than the utility’s current offerings.
The DRPS tariff lowers Textron Aviation’s fuel factor cost from 2.3 cents per kilowatt hour to 1.8 cents per kWh, nearly a 22% saving, the company said.