Holcim US reaches agreement to increase wind, solar energy

By |  December 9, 2022

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Holcim US entered into a virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) dedicated to renewable energy generation with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT).

According to Holcim, the agreement means at least 38 percent of its total power consumption at its production facilities in Texas is now from wind generation. The VPPA complements Holcim’s ongoing investment in on-site renewable energy generation, participation in community solar farms, and gains from electrical efficiency investments, the company says.

“Holcim US is driving forward momentum to meet our green growth strategy goals by incorporating new technologies and processes at every level,” says Atl Martinez, vice president of procurement at 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.”

With the VPPA, Holcim says 92,000 renewable energy credits will be generated each year to go toward its decarbonization goals. The company adds that the renewable energy is generated from a large wind farm in Coke County, Texas. According to Holcim, the generation from this contract is equivalent to reducing 143.7 million pounds of carbon dioxide annually.

Through wind and solar contracts, Holcim says it is set to avoid an estimated 5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. This is equivalent to 12.5 billion miles driven by gas-powered cars or 5.5 billion pounds of burned coal, according to the company.

Separately, Holcim generates on-site renewable energy in Paulding, Ohio, with three wind turbines generating up to 4.5 megawatts of power. It also operates in Hagerstown, Maryland, with a 10-megawatt solar array. The company says this reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 28 million tons a year. A total of 68 megawatts of solar arrays are under contract in Colorado, Michigan and Arkansas, along with a 40-megawatt battery storage system in Colorado.

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Jack Kopanski

About the Author:

Jack Kopanski is the Managing Editor of Pit & Quarry and Editor-in-Chief of Portable Plants. Kopanski can be reached at 216-706-3756 or jkopanski@northcoastmedia.net.

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