BENTON HARBOR, Mich. — Whirlpool Corporation has entered into agreements with One Energy to add onsite wind and solar power at two of its manufacturing operations, including one where its single-load washers are manufactured, the company reports.
Wind and solar power will be added to its Ohio operations in Clyde, where the washers are made, and Findlay.
The company currently has nine onsite wind turbines at four of its Ohio plants: Findlay, Marion, Greenville and Ottawa. Combined, those turbines supply 22% of the electrical needs for those facilities.
These two projects are among the largest behind-the-meter renewable energy projects in the United States, Whirlpool says, and once complete will ensure the Clyde and Findlay plants receive at least 70% of their energy needs from onsite renewable energy.
The expansion project involves three additional turbines at the company’s Findlay operations, bringing its total number of onsite turbines to five. This will be the first introduction of onsite renewable energy for operations in Clyde, with the construction of three turbines. A ground solar array will also be installed at each location.
The two projects combined will create 40.8 megawatts of renewable energy, bringing Whirlpool into the top 25% of companies on the Environmental Protection Agency's national Green Power Partnership list.
“Our focus on sustainability goes back over 50 years, and these new onsite installations are a significant step toward achieving our net zero target by 2030 for our operations,” says Pam Klyn, Whirlpool Corporation’s executive vice president of corporate relations and sustainability. “Sustainability is deeply embedded in our values, and we’re very excited to be making this announcement today.”
The solar and wind projects are expected to be online and operational by early 2025.
Each turbine that Whirlpool has installed to date provides scholarship money in conjunction with One Energy. For the six new wind turbines, six additional $5,000 scholarships will be awarded per year to students in the local area pursuing a two- or four-year degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math).
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