Campbell Soup Co. and Enel North America announced a 12-year virtual renewable power purchase agreement this week, a deal that supports Campbell’s goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Through the agreement, Campbell will purchase the electricity and the associated renewable energy credits from a 115-megawatt share of Enel’s Seven Cowboy wind project in Oklahoma. The contract is expected to commence in July 2023.
Stewart Lindsay, a vice president and head of Campbell’s corporate responsibility and sustainability, said the agreement is in line with the company’s mission.
“Improving the sustainability of the agriculture and food value chain is important to Campbell,” he said. “Reducing emissions is a key part of this work, and the agreement with Enel North America provides a significant step forward in meeting our science-based emissions targets.”
The renewable energy credits retained through the agreement will reduce Campbell’s Scope 2 GHG emissions, enabling the company to make substantial progress toward achieving its science-based target to reduce its combined Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 42% by fiscal year 2030, Campbell officials said.
Using expected production from Campbell’s portion of the wind project, the renewable electricity is estimated to avoid approximately 191,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions every year, or the equivalent of approximately 29% of Campbell’s fiscal year 2021 combined Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
Paolo Romanacci, head of Enel North America’s renewable energy business, Enel Green Power, said the company is eager to help.
“We are proud to support Campbell’s goal to create a more sustainable food system,” he said. “This agreement demonstrates how food and beverage companies like Campbell can leverage clean energy solutions to achieve their emissions reduction goals, while also supporting the addition of new renewable energy to the electric grid.”
Located southwest of Oklahoma City, the Seven Cowboy wind project will have 107 turbines that are expected to generate over 1.3 terawatt hours of energy each year, equivalent to the electricity needs of over 120,000 U.S. households.
