Allete Clean Energy is to supply Smithfield Foods with 75MW of electricity for 12 years from the 300MW Diamond Spring wind farm in Oklahoma. Construction of Diamond Spring will start late this year or in early 2020, Allete said. Smithfield is a $15bn global food company and the world’s largest pig producer and pork processor. In 2016, the company set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2025. To help reach that goal, the company created Smithfield Renewables. Smithfield Renewables senior director Kraig Westerbeek said: “This partnership to source renewable energy is part of our multifaceted and comprehensive approach to reduce our carbon footprint. “The carbon-free energy generated through the Diamond Spring project is projected to account for more than 15% of our total energy usage across the US, allowing us to power a substantial portion of our operations using sustainable energy.” Allete bought Diamond Spring from Apex Clean Energy and has previously negotiated power sales agreements with Walmart and Starbucks. Walmart has agreed a 15-year deal for 175MW, while Starbucks will buy 50MW over the same period. Allete Clean Energy president Allan Rudeck said: “Allete Clean Energy is proud to help these leading companies meet their greenhouse gas reduction and renewable energy goals through the carbon-free energy that will be generated at Diamond Spring. “In addition to adding renewable energy to meet sustainability goals, these companies also seek to lower their energy costs. “Our team delivers both, with a reputation for timely, responsible and cost-effective project execution. “Directly serving the corporate and industrial power market is opening new growth opportunities for Allete Clean Energy.”
Smithfield Renewables, a subsidiary of the world's biggest pork processor, Smithfield Foods, has signed a 12-year, 75 MW power purchase agreement (PPA) with Allete Clean Energy. The deal will see Oklahoma's 300 MW Diamond Spring wind farm supply Smithfield with more than 15% of its total US energy needs. Construction should begin in late 2019 or early 2020. The agreement is in line with the food firm's 2016 pledge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a quarter by 2025. Allete has similar PPAs with Walmart and Starbucks.