The turbines will generate more than 12 million kWh annually and offset approximately 70 percent of the plant's electricity consumption –potentially eliminating the equivalent of more than 9000 annual tons of CO2.
Ron Voglewede, Whirlpool Corporation Global Sustainability Director, said, "We are proud that this will be our fourth of five plants in Ohio to utilize sustainable energy, and we are committed to continuing to grow initiatives and projects like these that help reduce our overall energy footprint."
Similar to previous wind turbine projects, all three turbines will be built and financed by One Energy Enterprises as part of its Wind for Industry® projects. The completion of these additional wind farms will potentially make Whirlpool Corporation one of the largest users of on-site wind energy of any Fortune 500 company in the United States. Greenville Operations manufactures various appliances and kitchen accessories under the KitchenAid brand.
Whirlpool will also create three $5,000 Megawatt Scholarships (one per turbine, for a total of $15,000 annually). These will be awarded every year the turbines are in operation. The Megawatt Scholarships will be awarded to local high school graduates pursuing a two-year or four-year STEM degree.
