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    PPG to procure Renewable Energy for Michigan sealants plant under 1.5-MW deal with Constellation

    Sept. 23, 2022
    The 12-year agreement from 2024 will provide PPG with energy and project-specific renewable energy certificates (RECs) from the Double Black Diamond Solar Energy Project, developed and owned by Swift Current Energy
    Another solar project. Image credit Swift Current Energy website
    Swift Current Solar 632db1d2918c0

    Paint, coating and sealant supplier PPG is contracting Constellation Energy to help it buy enough renewable energy to offset annual electricity consumption at its Adrian, Michigan plant.

    The 12-year agreement from 2024 will provide PPG with energy and project-specific renewable energy certificates (RECs) from the Double Black Diamond Solar Energy Project, developed and owned by Swift Current Energy. The deal was made possible by a long-term agreement between Swift Current Energy and Constellation Energy.

    Under the deal, Constellation will buy a portion of energy and RECs generated by the solar project, the construction of which is expected to start by the end of this year.

    PPG’s Adrian facility makes adhesives and sealants for automotive original equipment manufacturers. It will procure approximately 3,500 megawatt hours of energy annually from the Double Black Diamond project. The procurement is expected to help PPG reduce its carbon footprint by over 2,400 metric tons annually.

    “We recognize the pivotal moment we are facing for climate change and how much work there is to be done to reduce our collective carbon impact,” said Diane Kappas, PPG vice president, Global Sustainability. “Our collaboration with Constellation and Swift Current Energy will allow us to continue making progress against our near-term decarbonization goals and enable us to operate our Adrian facility in a more energy efficient manner. We look forward to identifying additional renewable energy opportunities globally to meet our greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.”

    The contract is Constellation’s second offsite renewable agreement to supply PPG in as many years.

    “We commend PPG on taking proactive steps to reduce its carbon footprint,” said Jim McHugh, chief commercial officer, Constellation. “As our customers’ carbon free energy needs evolve, we are committed to providing them with what they need now and into the future. That is why our suite of sustainable power options will soon include an hourly carbon-free solution, to help our customers reach their zero emissions goals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year.”

    The 593-MW Double Black Diamond Solar project is located in Sangamon and Morgan counties, Illinois. The solar array covers more than 4,000 acres and will generate enough power at capacity to supply more than 80,000 homes.

    About the Author

    EnergyTech Staff

    Rod Walton is senior editor for EnergyTech.com. He has spent 14 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist.

    Walton formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.

    He can be reached at [email protected]. 

    EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids.

    Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.