HERSHEY, Pa., April 20, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hershey
Company (NYSE: HSY) today announced two new clean energy
partnerships to develop solar projects in the U.S. as it moves its
operations toward the use of clean and renewable energy.
Hershey signs two new clean energy partnerships as it moves its
operations toward the use of clean and renewable energy.
For the first project, located in Camden, North Carolina, 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.
In addition, Hershey has signed a solar power purchase agreement
(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.
The projects support the company's recently announced science-based
targets commitments to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in
line with the global best practice of the Paris Climate Agreement
to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C.
Renewable energy investments and energy efficiency projects are
a key focus area for Hershey to achieve its goal to reduce Scope 1
and 2 emissions by more than 50% by 2030.
"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."
Edison Energy, a sustainability and energy management
consultancy, advised Hershey on its environmental initiatives and
selection of BayWa r.e. and National Grid Renewables as solar
developers. Edison Energy has advised global companies,
universities and cities on more than 6.7 gigawatts of renewable
energy projects across North
America and Europe.
"We're committed to a clean energy future, and we're thrilled to
work with forward-looking, corporate leaders like Hershey to
address their ambitious climate goals," said Jam Attari, CEO of
BayWa r.e. Solar Projects LLC in the U.S. "Renewable projects like
Camden both support
decarbonization efforts and have been the driver of skilled jobs
creation in the energy economy and transition required to meet the
continuing needs of these market leaders."
"National Grid Renewables is proud to partner with Hershey and
other stakeholders on Noble to provide strong economic benefits for
the local community of Denton
County," stated Nathan
Franzen, Vice President, Development for National Grid
Renewables. "We currently estimate that 250 workers will construct
Noble, 3-5 new permanent jobs will be created to support project
operations, and millions of dollars will be produced locally
through new tax revenue creation and increased spending – all while
generating clean, solar energy for Texas residents."
*Calculated using the United States Environmental Protection
Agency's (EPA) greenhouse gas equivalencies calculator. This
calculator uses marginal emissions rates.
About The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company is headquartered in Hershey, Pa., and is an industry-leading
snacks company known for bringing goodness to the world through its
iconic brands, remarkable people and enduring commitment to help
children succeed. Hershey has approximately 17,000 employees around
the world who work every day to deliver delicious, quality
products. The company has more than 90 brands around the world that
drive more than $8 billion in annual
revenues, including such iconic brand names as Hershey's, Reese's,
Kit Kat®, Jolly Rancher, Ice Breakers, SkinnyPop, and Pirate's
Booty.
For more than 125 years, Hershey has been committed to operating
fairly, ethically and sustainably. Hershey founder,
Milton Hershey, created the Milton
Hershey School in 1909 and since then the company has focused on
helping children succeed.
To learn more visit www.thehersheycompany.com.
About BayWa r.e.
At BayWa r.e. we r.e. think energy -- how it is
produced, stored and can be best used to enable the global
renewable energy transition that is essential to the future of our
planet. We are a leading global developer, service supplier,
distributor and solutions provider and have brought over 4 GW of
energy online and manage over 10 GW of assets. We are also an
Independent Power Producer with an expanding energy trading
business. BayWa r.e. works with businesses worldwide to provide
tailored renewable solutions. Operating 100% carbon neutral, we are
also committed to our own sustainability journey. Every day, we are
working hard to actively shape the future of energy in a diverse,
equitable and inclusive workplace. Our shareholders are BayWa AG, a
€17.2 billion (US$19.6 billion)
global business, and Energy Infrastructure Partners, a leader in
energy infrastructure investment. BayWa r.e. Solar Projects LLC is
a leading utility-scale solar developer. For more information,
visit https://us.baywa-re.com/en/solar/
About National Grid Renewables
National Grid Renewables, part of the competitive, unregulated
National Grid Ventures division of National Grid (NYSE: NGG),
develops, owns and operates large-scale renewable energy assets
across the United States,
including solar, wind and battery storage. As a farmer-friendly and
community-focused business, National Grid Renewables develops
projects for corporations and utilities that seek to repower
America's electricity grid by reigniting local economies and
reinvesting in a sustainable, clean energy future.
National Grid Renewables has a robust development pipeline of
wind, solar and battery storage projects in various stages of
development throughout the United
States, as well as geographically diverse operational assets
across the country. It supports National Grid's vision of being at
the heart of a clean, fair, and affordable energy future for all.
Please visit www.nationalgridrenewables.com to learn more.
About Edison Energy
A wholly owned subsidiary of Edison International (NYSE: EIX),
Edison Energy provides independent, global advisory solutions to
help large corporate, industrial, and institutional clients better
understand and navigate the choices and risks of managing energy.
We enable decision-makers in organizations to deliver on their
strategic, financial and sustainability goals by addressing the
three biggest challenges in energy today: cost, carbon, and complex
choices. We deliver and implement specialized solutions across
analytics, renewables, sustainability, supply, and demand to align
our client's energy investments with their strategic goals. For
more information, visit www.edisonenergy.com.
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SOURCE The Hershey Company