SC Johnson recognized for sustainability efforts
RACINE, Wis. — SC Johnson, a leader in sustainability, has received the Renewable Energy Customer-Generator of the Year award from Renew Wisconsin.
Renew Wisconsin is an independent nonprofit organization that leads and represents businesses, organizations and individuals who want cleaner, renewable energy in the state. It recognized SC Johnon for its achievements in using renewable energy in its global manufacturing operations.
"To be recognized with other Wisconsin companies that also champion clean energy is truly an honor and speaks to the priorities of the business community in our state," said Kelly M. Semrau, SVP of global corporate affairs, communication and sustainability at SC Johnson. "We are grateful for the support of Renew Wisconsin and their dedicated efforts to advance clean energy policies that put Wisconsin at the forefront of environmental leadership."
SC Johnson's installed two 415-foot wind turbines at Waxdale, the company's largest global manufacturing facility in Mt. Pleasant, Wis., December 2012. The turbines, first of their kind in the state, will produce about eight million kilowatt hours of electricity annually, which is enough to power 700 homes in a year. Combined with two cogeneration turbines that have been in place since the middle 2000s, the facility is now able to produce an average of 100% of its electrical energy onsite.
"SC Johnson is doing outstanding work as a renewable self-generator to make wind energy a smart and viable alternative to power their operations," said Michael Vickerman, program and policy director at Renew Wisconsin. "We were thrilled to recognize the company for powering positive action in Wisconsin using wind energy, and we are proud that the policies Renew has advanced have helped SC Johnson achieve this success."
SC Johnson is currently the only manufacturer in the country that has installed Vensys turbines, the latest in wind turbine technology, meaning less maintenance and higher energy yields than traditional systems.
SC Johnson also added three SWIFT mini wind turbines to the roof of its Lowell, Ark., sales office, capable of generating as much as 3,600 kilowatt hours of electricity annually. These reduce carbon dioxide emissions equal to about 280 gallons of gasoline. In the Netherlands, a 262-foot-tall wind turbine helps power the SC Johnson European manufacturing facility.
In Indonesia, the company launched a biofuel initiative that converts waste palm shells as a fuel source to heat water for mosquito coil production. This cuts greenhouse gas emissions at the factory by more than 15% and reduces local diesel fuel use by 80%.
Each of these projects brings SC Johnson closer to its goal of increasing worldwide renewable energy use to 44% of total electricity by 2016.