Hershey, PA — The Hershey Co. has entered into two clean energy partnerships to develop solar projects in the U.S. as part of its plan to move its operations toward the use of clean and renewable energy.
For the first project, located in Camden, NC, the company has made a 15-year power purchase agreement that will enable the financing and construction of the company’s first utility-scale solar farm. The farm is being developed by global renewable energy developer BayWa r.e. The project will be a 20 megawatt (MW-AC) facility on 218 acres of land. Once completed, the company says it will reduce CO2 emission by 32,025 metric tons per year, the equivalent of emissions incurred from driving more than 80 million miles in the average passenger car or charging nearly 3.9 billion smartphones. Construction is expected to be completed in late July.
In addition, Hershey has signed a solar power purchase agreement with National Grid Renewables for 50 megawatts (MWac) of the previously announced Noble Project (Noble), currently under construction in Denton County, TX. The contract will account for an estimated 118,000 megawatt hours per year, resulting in a reduction of approximately 83,625 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually, equivalent to driving 210 million miles in the average passenger car or charging more than 10 billion smartphones, the company notes.
Together, the projects will generate significant clean power in North Carolina and Texas as well as significantly reduce Hershey’s CO2 footprint by 115,650 metric tons each year, according to the company. The projects support the Hershey’s recently announced science-based targets commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the global best practice of the Paris Climate Agreement to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C.
The company says renewable energy investments and energy efficiency projects are a key focus area to achieve its goal to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by more than 50% by 2030.
“As we continue on our path towards an increased reliance on clean and renewable energy, we’re excited to partner with BayWa r.e. and National Grid Renewables to develop these solar projects in North Carolina and Texas,” says Jeff King, senior director of global sustainability and social impact. “Not only will these solar projects help Hershey reduce its impact on the environment, they will also create jobs and help contribute to the growth of local economies and our commitment to reduce our GHG footprint.”
