In a significant stride toward carbon neutrality, Kohler Co. has secured a hefty sum from Uncle Sam to greenify its upcoming Arizona plant. The U.S. Department of Energy is backing the bath and shower giant with up to $51.2 million in awards, intent on slicing down the carbon footprint of the plant poised to be one of the largest in North America.
Slated to go operational by mid-2024, the Casa Grande facility, which stands a stone's throw away from Phoenix, has awarded natural gas boilers the pink slip. In their place, the plan champions electric boilers, according to details found on the ABC15 website. With these upgrades, an estimated 7,865 megatons of CO2e annually should stay out of our atmosphere, taking a 90% gouge out of emissions.
The upgrade list reads like a wishlist for eco-warriors: a 21-megawatt solar panel array, a microgrid, energy storage that boasts batteries with 68 megawatt-hours of staying power, and generators with muscles to chew through 12 megawatts of HVO, as detailed by The Business Journal. The gear comes courtesy of Kohler Energy businesses, with Clarke Energy spearheading construction and engineering procurement, and Heila Technologies on deck for microgrid control.
Brian Melka, Group President of Kohler Energy, pitched in his two cents, saying, "As governments, businesses, and individuals look for ways to reduce their carbon footprint, we're likewise pursuing ways to positively contribute to decarbonization through new technologies and advanced engineering to develop solutions that utilize clean energy sources," in a statement obtained by The Business Journal. Overarching the plant, the 1 million-square-foot site is a colossal investment to the tune of $300 million, expected to roll out 400 new steady jobs upon completion.
Laura Kohler, the chief sustainable living officer at Kohler, tipped her hat to the project's broader benefits: "This funding will allow us to accelerate our Net Zero GHG commitment across scopes 1 and 2 by 2035,” she attested in a statement obtained by The Business Journal. "It will also have many positive impacts on the community." On top of the federal boost, Kohler is pitching in to match the U.S. award for its eco-friendly endeavor.
The big pivot to eco-conscious manufacturing isn't just happening in a vacuum. Kohler is also backing a multiyear initiative alongside Arizona State University and Bridgestone, spearheaded by the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, taking aim at transitioning high-water use crops to more desert-friendly alternatives, pointed out by both ABC15 and The Business Journal. With a trend toward greener operations, Kohler's initiative is painting a sustainability streak, aiming for a smaller environmental impact and a brighter public image.
