US-based food products manufacturer Mars has agreed to purchase the electricity from the 200MW Mesquite Creek wind farm, which is located near Lamesa in Texas.
The wind farm, which is being jointly developed by Sumitomo and BNB Renewable Energy, will feature 118 1.7MW GE turbines that will generate enough renewable electricity to power all of Mars’ US operations.
Blattner Energy is construction the wind farm on the 25,000 acre site, which is located in Borden and Dawson Counties.
Turbine delivery is due to start at the end of the summer, with wind farm planned to be completed in the second quarter of 2015.
Mars’ investment in Mesquite Creek wind farm is the latest in a series of initiatives undertaken by the company in its Sustainable in a Generation business strategy.
The company’s goals include reducing its fossil-fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2015, with 2007 as the baseline year, and becoming completely carbon-neutral by 2040.
Mars chief sustainability officer Barry Parkin said the company is committed to doing its 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. This is an innovative approach that makes great business and environmental sense," Parkin said.