The first of Hershey’s two new clean energy partnerships is located in Camden, North Carolina, where Hershey has made a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) 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. This solar project will be a 20 megawatt (MW-AC) facility on 218 acres of land.
Once completed, the North Carolina project 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 of the new solar farm is expected to be completed in late July.
Solar power
In addition, Hershey said it has signed a solar a PPA with National Grid Renewables for 50 megawatts (MWac) of the previously announced Noble Project (Noble), currently under construction in Denton County, Texas.
Hershey's solar contract will account for an estimated 118,000 megawatt hours per year, creating 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.
Hershey is one of several companies involved in the Noble Project, which is estimated to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by a total of 450,000 metric tons annually during the first 20 years of operations.
Together, both solar 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.
"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," said Jeff King, Senior Director of Global Sustainability and Social Impact.
"Not only will these solar projects help Hershey to 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."
