Holcim US Harnesses Solar Energy at Hagerstown Plant

Hagerstown, MD, October 8, 2020 — Holcim US announced the opening of a new solar field next to its Holcim Hagerstown Cement Plant in Maryland, which will provide clean, renewable energy for the facility’s operations. The company is seizing this opportunity at a time when solar is booming across residential and non-residential sectors, with more than 81 GW of solar capacity nationwide and an average annual growth rate of 59%.

“As solar technologies continue to improve, this abundant energy source stands out as both a sustainable and economical solution to follow through on our commitment to minimize emissions and reduce our carbon footprint,” said Jamie M. Gentoso, CEO of US Cement operations at Holcim. “We already have access to large areas of land with a high concentration of sunlight, so utilizing solar energy is an easy decision.”

The solar field, built in partnership with Greenbacker Renewable Energy Company, begins operations in October 2020, and is expected to generate 10 MWac of energy on-peak, which is sufficient power to provide about 25 percent of the plant’s annual requirements. More importantly, the solar addition will prevent the equivalent of roughly 12,375 tons of CO2 emissions from entering the environment. All electricity produced by the solar array will be used by the plant during operations. 

“The positive impact the solar field will have on our environment and public health, is an important step, and I appreciate Holcim’s long-term commitment to Washington County,” said Jeffrey A. Cline, Chairman, Board of County Commissioners, Washington County, Maryland.

The solar array addition at Hagerstown is part of a larger trend for the company, which has utilized renewables like solar and wind at four plant locations. Last year, three wind turbines were erected at the Holcim cement plant in Paulding, OH, which now provide power to the plant that is both cheaper and cleaner than energy sourced from the grid. 

“As we strive toward becoming a net-zero company, clean energy is a key part of our strategy,” said Gentoso. “During the next five years, we hope to install enough renewable energy to power all of our plants and give back to the surrounding communities; this new solar array is just the beginning for us.”

About Holcim

Holcim is the leading global building materials and solutions company. It has four businesses: cement, aggregates and ready-mix concrete as well as advanced solutions and products that include precast concrete, asphalt and mortar. With its broad portfolio Holcim solves the toughest challenges facing masons, builders, architects and engineers, bringing industry-leading innovations and services to customers challenged by urbanization, population growth and the demand for sustainability. Headquartered in Switzerland and with leading positions in all regions, Holcim employs approximately 80,000 employees in around 80 countries and has a portfolio that is equally balanced between developing and mature markets.

In the United States, Holcim companies include close to 350 sites in 43 states and employ 7,000 people. Our customers rely on us to help them design and build better communities with innovative solutions that deliver structural integrity and eco-efficiency.
 

Contact

Kelly Brown
Holcim
T: +1 773 708 5465
Email: Kelly.Brown@holcim.com