CHICAGO, Nov. 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- McDonald's (NYSE:
MCD) announced the signing of two long-term, large-scale
virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs), whereby McDonald's will
buy renewable energy generated by Aviator Wind West, a wind power
project located in Coke County,
Texas and a solar project located in Texas. The
combined 380MW in renewable energy expected to be generated from
McDonald's contribution to these projects will help to prevent over
700,000 metric tons of carbon emissions each year, which is
equivalent to planting more than 11 million trees or taking over
140,000 cars off the road for one year. Additionally, the energy
generated by these U.S. projects will be equivalent to over 2,500
restaurants-worth of electricity.
In March 2018, McDonald's became
the first restaurant company in the world to set a greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions target approved by the Science Based Targets
initiative (SBTi). These two U.S. renewable energy projects will
represent significant progress toward McDonald's Climate Action
Target to reduce GHG emissions related to McDonald's restaurants
and offices by 36% by 2030. Once online, the GHG emissions
reductions from these two deals are expected to deliver 16% in
progress toward our Climate Action Target or 6% in GHG emissions
reductions from our 2015 baseline.
"As we look at the most pressing social and environmental
challenges facing the world today, McDonald's has a responsibility
to take action, and our customers expect us to do what is right for
the planet," said Francesca
DeBiase, Chief Supply Chain and Sustainability Officer,
McDonald's. "These U.S. wind and solar projects represent a
significant step in our work to address climate change, building on
years of renewable energy sourcing in many of our European
markets. We want to keep this momentum going, and we're
excited for what's next."
Both of these projects will impact the local community by
jointly generating over $200M in
local tax revenue and helping to provide approximately 600 new
short-term construction, operations, maintenance jobs, as well as
13 long-term jobs.
"McDonald's significant investment in 380 MWs of renewable
energy to cover a large chunk of the GHG emissions from the
electricity purchased by their franchisees is groundbreaking," said
Marty Spitzer, Senior Director,
Climate and Renewable Energy, World Wildlife Fund. "Knowing
their franchisees are typically small businesses that don't have
the capacity or resources to buy renewable energy at the scale
needed to tackle the climate challenge, McDonald's has taken a road
untraveled. Other companies with thousands of franchisees need to
take notice."
"McDonald's worked tirelessly to align its organization, design
a creative strategy that fits its unique franchised business model
and build a strong foundation for future transactions," said
Gary Farha, president and CEO of
CustomerFirst Renewables. "With this initiative, McDonald's is
taking an important step towards addressing its carbon footprint
and is demonstrating leadership by inspiring others to act."
McDonald's is committed to taking bold action on climate change
and the environment. In addition to the restaurant and office GHG
reduction target, McDonald's has also committed to seek a 31
percent reduction in emissions intensity (per metric ton of food
and packaging) across our supply chain. Through its Scale for
Good platform, the company is also working toward 2025 goals to
make 100 percent of McDonald's guest packaging come from renewable,
recycle or certified sources and to recycle guest packaging in 100
percent of McDonald's restaurants.
About McDonald's USA
McDonald's serves a variety of menu options made with quality
ingredients to more than 25 million customers every day.
Approximately 95% of McDonald's nearly 14,000 U.S. restaurants are
independently owned and operated by businessmen and women. For more
information, visit www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us on Twitter
@McDonalds and Facebook
at www.facebook.com/mcdonalds.
About Aviator Wind West
Aviator Wind West was developed by Apex Clean Energy and was
structured, financed, and is owned by Ares Management (NYSE: ARES)
Infrastructure and Power strategy. The start of operations for the
agreement is expected to begin in 2020.
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SOURCE McDonald's Corporation