In another example of corporations starting to see the value in solar, Toyota has announced a plan to develop a large scale solar plant on a coal site in Kentucky.
This post is courtesy of a recent article from wfpl.org
This project is part of the car manufacturer’s larger plan of purchasing 365 MW of solar electricity per year from contractors in the South and Appalachia regions of the country.
The size of the solar panel system comes in at 100 MW and will cost approximately $130 million. A 700 acre reclaimed mining site is where the panels will be set up. This particular project will also create somewhere between 50 and 100 new jobs. It is expected to be completed by 2021.
Adam Edelen, current Democratic candidate for Governor in Kentucky, a coal company – RH Group, and EDF Renewables – a French Renewable Energy company are the three parts of this collaboration.
At first glance, it may seem very strange that a coal company would be involved in a renewable energy project, but their reasoning is sound. “It doesn’t matter whether you care about the environment or not, this is pure economics.” – Ryan Johns (vice president of business development at RH Group. It’s a win-win-win. The land gets put to use again, money is made on cheap solar power, and the local economy gets a boost with job creation.
This partnership with RH Group is part of Toyota’s plan of being carbon negative by 2050. Toyota will now also be considered one of the major corporate players in the wave of companies going green.
Kentucky’s solar capacity would triple when this project is finalized. This should not be surprising to anyone as the state has not exactly been a leader in the adoption of solar power. In fact, the state’s restrictive net metering laws have made payback periods for solar much longer than what is typically available in other states.
Another reason why this project is being considered in Kentucky is the fact that natural gas has all but killed coal companies in the region. While RH Group is not abandoning their coal business, they admit that it makes good financial sense to at least take advantage of the opportunity that solar represents to help diversify their energy portfolio.
Assuming this project is a success, Johns plans on persuading other coal companies to do similar projects on their unused coal sites.
In a way, Toyota is living up to their slogan, “Moving Forward”, by investing in solar power.
We can expect large corporations and many smaller ones to continue to invest heavily into solar power in the coming years.
In conclusion, the decision by Toyota to transform a coal site into a solar site is a significant step towards sustainable and renewable energy. By utilizing solar power, Toyota not only reduces its carbon footprint but also contributes to the global efforts in combating climate change. This initiative showcases Toyota’s commitment to environmental responsibility and sets an example for other companies to follow. Overall, the transformation of the coal site into a solar site is a positive development for both Toyota and the environment.
In conclusion, Toyota’s decision to transform a coal site into a solar site is a commendable move towards sustainability and clean energy. By utilizing renewable sources like solar power, Toyota is not only reducing its carbon footprint but also contributing to the global efforts in combating climate change. This initiative showcases Toyota’s commitment to environmental responsibility and sets a positive example for other companies in the automotive industry. Overall, this transition demonstrates Toyota’s dedication to creating a more sustainable future and should be applauded.
In conclusion, Toyota’s decision to convert a coal site into a solar site is a commendable move towards sustainable energy solutions. By embracing renewable energy sources like solar power, Toyota not only reduces its carbon footprint but also sets an example for other industries to follow. This transition not only benefits the environment but also promotes the use of clean energy, contributing to a greener and more sustainable future.
In conclusion, Toyota’s decision to convert a coal site into a solar site is a commendable step towards sustainable and clean energy production. By harnessing the power of the sun, Toyota is not only reducing its carbon footprint but also contributing to the global efforts in combating climate change. This transition showcases Toyota’s commitment to environmental responsibility and serves as an inspiration for other companies to adopt renewable energy sources. Overall, this product demonstrates the potential for transforming previously polluting industries into environmentally friendly ones, paving the way for a greener future.
In conclusion, Toyota’s decision to convert a coal site into a solar site is a commendable move towards sustainability and clean energy. By harnessing the power of the sun, Toyota is not only reducing its carbon footprint but also contributing to the global efforts in combating climate change. This transformation showcases Toyota’s commitment to environmental responsibility and serves as a positive example for other companies to follow. Overall, this product demonstrates Toyota’s dedication to innovation and their proactive approach in creating a greener future.