Starbucks Opens ‘Green’ Roasting Plant

Seattle Starbucks Corp. said Thursday it opened a new roasting plant in South Carolina that meets a standard for green design.

The new plant, located in Calhoun County, will employ 100 full-time workers and will supply coffee to stores in the Southeast.

Starbucks said it has been awarded LEED certification for new construction by the U.S. Green Building Council. The certification is awarded to projects that use green design elements to reduce energy and waste.

The company said 20% of the plant's building materials were from recycled content and more than 75% of construction waste was recycled. A portion of the power used to operate the plant will be supplied by wind energy.

Starbucks has said it will get LEED certification for all new company-operated stores by the end of 2010.