MINNEAPOLIS, June 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- General Mills
has taken another step toward its climate goal with the signing of
a virtual 15-year power purchase agreement with Renewable Energy
Systems (RES) for 100-megawatts (MW) of its Cactus Flats wind
project. The wind project will produce renewable energy credits for
General Mills that can be applied toward the company's greenhouse
gas emission reduction goals. During the peak of construction, the
project will create about 250 jobs in the clean energy
workforce.
"As we help mitigate the impacts of climate change, investing in
wind energy is the right thing to do," said John Church, Executive Vice President of Supply
Chain at General Mills. "This investment is another step towards
reducing our energy footprint and achieving sustainable emission
levels - in line with scientific consensus - by 2050."
General Mills' investment will help fund the construction of the
150-megawatt Cactus Flats wind project being developed in
Concho County, Texas by RES, a
leading global renewable energy and energy storage development and
construction company. The project's renewable energy credits will
enable General Mills to reduce its Scope 2 emissions as part of its
target of sustainable emission levels across its global value chain
by 2050. In 2016, General Mills reduced the greenhouse gas
emissions of its extended value chain by 2 percent versus 2015.
"RES is proud to support General Mills in reducing its energy
footprint and reaching its sustainability goals," said Brian Evans, Chief Development Officer, RES in
the Americas. "We will continue to work with industry leaders, like
General Mills, to deliver clean, reliable power at a competitive
price."
The wind energy industry is currently one of the fastest growing
segments for job creation, adding jobs 9 times faster than the
overall U.S. economy*. According to Navigant Consulting, "the U.S.
wind industry will support 865,000 job-years of employment and
provide $85 billion in economic
impact in 2017-2020"**.
Cactus Flats is located in a particularly favorable wind area in
central Texas, which is the
leading state in the U.S. for wind energy production with over
20,000 MW of installed capacity***. General Mills worked with
Altenex, an Edison Energy company, to ensure the project met its
sustainability, performance and economic objectives.
"General Mills' announcement is a significant step," said
Cynthia Cummis, WRI's Director of
Private Sector Climate Mitigation. "It demonstrates their ongoing
commitment to achieve their climate goals."
General Mills is listed on the 2016 CDP Climate A-List. For more
information on General Mills' ambitious climate commitment, visit
its 2017 Global Responsibility Report and Taste of General Mills
blog.
*American Wind Energy Association's (AWEA)
"U.S. Wind Industry Annual Market
Report Year Ending 2016"
**Navigant Consulting's "Economic Development Impacts of Wind
Projects: Jobs and Economic Impacts Resulting from U.S. Wind
Projects 2017-2020"
***AWEA's "U.S. Wind Industry Fourth Quarter 2016
Market Report"
About General Mills
General Mills is a leading global food company that serves the
world by making food people love. Its brands include
Cheerios, Annie's, Yoplait, Nature
Valley, Fiber One, Haagen-Dazs, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Old
El Paso, Wanchai Ferry, Yoki and more.
Headquartered in Minneapolis,
Minnesota, USA, General Mills generated fiscal 2016
consolidated net sales of US $16.6
billion, as well as another US $1.0
billion from its proportionate share of joint-venture net
sales. For more information about General Mills, visit
www.generalmills.com.
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SOURCE General Mills