August 1, 2019
Butter Solar Projects bring Organic Valley to 100% renewably powered
Today, we joined Organic Valley to celebrate the completion of the Cashton Solar Facility. This facility is one of 10 solar projects which makes up the 23 MWAC Butter Solar Portfolio. Together, these projects will provide renewable energy for over 5,000 homes each year.
“With the construction of the Butter Solar Portfolio nearing completion, we are proud to partner with organizations such as Organic Valley and make these valuable solar projects a reality for the local communities,” said Jamey Fitzgibbon, Executive Vice-President, Engineering and Construction of BluEarth Renewables. “As we add more renewable energy to the power grid every day, we are committed to creating a more sustainable environment for generations to come.”
The energy from these facilities will be sold under a single power purchase agreement to the Upper Midwest Municipal Energy Group, a joint action agency representing its member utilities. Renewable energy credits generated from the portfolio will be purchased by Organic Valley, the City of Madison, Dr. Bronner’s, and NativeEnergy. When fully commissioned, these projects will make Organic Valley the largest food company in the world to be 100% renewably powered.
“Our community solar partnership allows us to share the benefits of solar energy with our rural neighbors, advancing our mission to care for the people and farms we work with, as well as our planet,” says Bob Kirchoff, CEO of Organic Valley. “Just as ours has done, community-scale solar projects can also create meaningful and good-paying jobs in regions where they are needed most.”
BluEarth Renewables’ U.S. affiliate acquired the Butter Solar Portfolio in December 2018 from the project developers, OneEnergy Renewables. BluEarth was responsible for the construction of these projects and owns and operates the portfolio.