General Mills Completes Massachusetts Solar Installation
getsolar.com
General Mills, the world’s sixth-largest food company, began itsenvironmentally responsible business practices in 2009 when the companybegan harnessing wind power to run its facility in San Adrian, Spain.Wind power now accounts for one-third of the facility’s annual energyuse.
On Friday, General Mills announced the completion of the firstrenewable energy installation sited at one of its U.S.-based plants. The General Mills facility in Methuen, Massachusetts recently completed asolar installation that is expected to supply almost 80 percent of thefacility’s summertime electricity needs — and 40 percent of its needsthe rest of the year.
On average, the system will produce 55percent of the facility’s annual energy needs, producing as many as110,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually and avoiding 112,000 pounds ofcarbon dioxide emissions annually.
General Mills is onlybeginning to use new energy-efficient technologies at various locations. The company is currently working on a biomass burner for itsoat-milling facility in Fridley, Minnesota. By burning left over oathulls, the system may generate up to 90 percent of the energy needed toheat the plant and produce oat flour.
General Mills Completes Massachusetts Solar Installation
