SCA has significantly advanced its commitment to green alternative energy with the installation of four wind turbines at its Service Excellence Center (SEC) in Menasha / Neenah, Wisconsin, USA. The official start-up of the turbines was marked with a community event and dedication ceremony on July 21.
(1) Mike Dillon, Manager for SCA's tissue operations, environmental and risk management watches as bolts that hold 15-foot-long blades to a turbine are torqued. (2) Don Lewis, President of SCA Tissue North America at the commemoration event; (3) The four wind turbines going on-line.At the community celebration the public had the chance to learn more about alternative energy, environmental awareness and conservation. “Our new wind turbines stand as a symbol of SCA’s commitment to sustainability and our environmentally friendly products,” Don Lewis, President of SCA Tissue North America, told the assembled dignitaries and attendees.
100 to 125 megawatt-hours per year
Footings for the 30-meter towers were placed in early December 2009. The towers were tipped into place during the week of June 14, 2010. The four 20-kilowatt turbines are now adding to the electricity supply for the SEC building.
“Each turbine has three 15-foot blades. Together, the four turbines will produce 100 to 125 megawatt-hours per year, enough electricity to power 10 to 12 homes each year,” says Mike Dillon, manager for SCA’s tissue operations, environmental and risk management.
In recent years, the SEC has served as a learning laboratory for SCA in exploring environmental and alternative energy initiatives: SCA installed 115 solar panels (2008), partnered up with McMahon Engineer Architects to begin a prairie grass restoration project (2008) and kicked off a storm water filtration project (2009).
SCA supports green jobs
SCA supports green jobs, starting with the employees who manufacture its 100-percent recycled Tork® products. SCA and the United Steelworkers have established a strong and collaborative working relationship which provides a critical foundation for the success of its day-to-day manufacturing operations.
The wind turbine project is an example of the green jobs that are evolving in the Fox Valley.
“The major participants in this effort are local,” Dillon pointed out. “The turbines are the first commercial units built by a new Oshkosh company called Renewegy, LLC. Faith Technologies in Menasha is doing the electrical work, and the foundation work for the towers was done by our neighbour, Miron Construction.”
Eligible for energy performance grant
With the turbines now operating, SCA becomes eligible to receive a U.S. Department of Energy performance grant that could pay for up to a third of the project’s USD 280,000 cost. “Based on the projected electricity from the turbines and on SCA continuing to meet its energy conservation goals, the wind turbine project will have a payback period of seven years or less,” says Dillon.
Source SCA press release More information Amy E. Bellcourt (amy.bellcourt @ sca.com)