EDF Renewable Energy has signed an agreement to supply Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE: KMB) with 120 megawatts (MW) of wind energy from the Rock Falls Wind Project in Oklahoma (total capacity 154 MW). The Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) is Kimberly-Clark’s first use of utility-scale renewable energy and will help Kimberly-Clark to surpass its 2022 commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% four years ahead of schedule.
Rock Falls Wind Project, located in Kay and Grant Counties in northern Oklahoma, consists of Siemens wind turbines manufactured in their Iowa-based facilities. The project has created more than 150 jobs since start of construction in July 2017 along with millions of dollars injected into the local economy. Upon commencement of commercial operation, anticipated in December 2017, the renewable energy will provide Kimberly-Clark with power equivalent to a significant portion of the electricity needs of its North American manufacturing operations.
Dai Owen, Director, Power Marketing for EDF RE commented, “The strong U.S. wind market relies in part on America’s corporate sector and companies like Kimberly-Clark, who through the purchase of wind energy demonstrate leadership in the drive for a low-carbon economy. Their commitment allowed Rock Falls to proceed, providing an economic boost to the Oklahoma economy, through new construction and operations jobs, expanded tax base, and recurring, long-term income for participating landowners.”
“We are proud to partner with EDF Renewable Energy on this project, which will accelerate our efforts to reduce climate change impacts, improve energy efficiency and lower operating costs,” said Lisa Morden, Global Head of Sustainability at Kimberly-Clark. “This agreement will help enable Kimberly-Clark to achieve its greenhouse gas emission reduction goal up to four years ahead of schedule and is a further step in preparing the company for a low-carbon future. It also supports Kimberly-Clark’s mission to provide people with essentials for a better life by caring for the environment and communities we serve.”
Rock Falls marks EDF RE’s second project in Oklahoma. In 2016, the Company completed the Great Western Wind Project which supplies Google with its output of electricity. EDF RE is a leading developer among corporate buyers of renewables which demonstrates the trust that sustainability-conscious companies place in EDF RE to deliver value. Kimberly-Clark joins the Company’s growing North America portfolio of corporate purchasers including Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, Procter & Gamble, Walmart and Yahoo.
EDF Renewable Energy is a leading US independent power producer with over 30 years of expertise in the renewable industry, covering all range of services from project origination, development, sales and marketing, to long-term asset management. EDF Renewable Energy specializes in wind and solar photovoltaic with presence in other segments of the renewable energy market: distributed electricity, storage, biogas, and biomass. EDF Renewable Energy’s North American portfolio consists of 9 gigawatts of developed projects with 4.4 gigawatts of installed capacity throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico. The operations and maintenance subsidiary, EDF Renewable Services, operates 10 gigawatts throughout North America. EDF Renewable Energy is a subsidiary of EDF Energies Nouvelles. EDF Energies Nouvelles is the renewable energy arm of the EDF group, the leading electricity company in the world. For more information visit: www.edf-re.com.
