14 DAY TRIAL // This past Wednesday, Mars Inc., i.e. the American global manufacturer of confectionery whom we must thank for Snickers, Skittles and other delicious treats, went public with the news that part of its operations would soon be powered by a wind farm under construction in Lamesa, a city in Texas, US.
Information shared with the public says that the wind farm is to comprise as many as 188 turbines whose overall clean energy generating capacity will amount to an impressive 200 megawatts.
It is estimated that, throughout the course of a single year, the facility will have an output of over 800,000 megawatt-hours, which is the equivalent of the electricity needed to meet the power demand of approximately 61,000 households or make 13 billion Snickers.
Mars Inc. estimates that, when up and running at full capacity, the wind farm in Lamesa, Texas, will generate enough clean power to meet the needs of the company's operations in the United States.
“We are committed to doing our part to limit climate change. We are therefore delighted to be announcing this major renewable project that takes us a big step towards our goal of becoming carbon neutral in our operations,” said Barry Parkin, chief sustainability officer at Mars Inc.
“By making this extraordinary commitment to buy renewable energy, Mars is sending a clear message that companies, private and public, have the power to lead the world on climate change,” added Jonathan Butcher, Sr., founder of BNB, i.e. one of the wind farm's developers.
On its website, Mars Inc. argues that, to its knowledge, this wind farm that it is now working on in Lamesa, Texas, is the biggest long-term commitment to green energy use that has until now been announced by a food manufacturing business in the United States.
The wind farm is expected to begin producing clean energy sometime later this year, probably towards the end of summer. However, commercial operations are expected to commence sometime after, probably in the second quarter of 2015.
On its website, Mars Inc. writes that it is committed to eliminating greenhouse gas emissions altogether by 2040. On the short term, that is by 2015, the company wishes to cut its emissions by 25% when compared to 2007 levels. It is expected that this wind farm will help Mars Inc. achieve this goal.
Check out the video below to learn more about Mars Inc.'s plans to improve on its ecological footprint by investing in clean energy sources.
