Glass maker Saint-Gobain North America is to buy 120MW of electricity from the 250MW Blooming Grove wind farm in Illinois, under a 12-year virtual power purchase agreement (PPA) with Invenergy.
Under the terms of the deal, which supports the construction of the project, Saint-Gobain will receive renewable energy certificates that will effectively offset 40% of the CO2 emissions from electricity powering the company’s US operations.
This will result in a 41% reduction in Saint-Gobain’s overall carbon footprint in the country.
Blooming Grove is under construction and is scheduled to be operational in late 2020.
The deal is the largest renewable energy deal in Saint-Gobain’s 354-year history and is a driver in helping the company reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Saint-Gobain vice president of sustainable development Emmanuel Normant said: “Today, we celebrate a significant milestone in Saint-Gobain’s three-and-a-half-century legacy of powering innovation that enhances the well-being of people around the world.
“I hope Saint-Gobain’s efforts can serve as a model for others who are looking to make strategic investments in the future of our planet while powering their company’s business objectives forward.”
Saint-Gobain North America president and chief executive Mark Rayfield said: “This makes North America a significant contributor in our global network towards helping meet Saint-Gobain’s sustainability goals, and puts us in the welcome company of some of the largest, most forward-thinking organisations in the world.
“The tenacity and ingenuity that was needed to make this deal possible is a testament to how Saint-Gobain trusts and empowers employees across the company to push boundaries each and every day to realise our vision and lead us into a sustainable future.”
Invenergy senior vice president of origination Ted Romaine said: “As innovators building a sustainable world, Invenergy applauds Saint-Gobain in its ongoing commitment to more sustainable operations.
“We are proud to be a part of this chapter of Saint-Gobain’s story as it continues to make a meaningful impact.”
Saint-Gobain North America worked with Edison Energy on the structuring of the deal.
Edison Energy chief executive Oded Rhone said: “Edison Energy is proud to partner with such a leading organisation as Saint-Gobain in helping them structure and implement an innovative renewable energy PPA in support of their ambitious climate commitments.”