An hour from the Gulf of Mexico, a 30,000-acre farm in South Texas is helping The Home Depot decrease its carbon emissions while providing some nice economic benefits to the surrounding community.
The Home Depot has partnered with EDP Renewables North America to purchase wind energy from the Los Mirasoles Wind Farm in McAllen, Texas. Boasting 125 turbines, the energy purchased from the farm is enough to power 100 Home Depot stores while also providing $150,000 in local community benefits each year.
DID YOU KNOW:
- The United States is among the largest and fastest growing wind energy markets in the world
- 1 megawatt (MW) of wind power can produce enough electricity to supply approximately 300 homes
- Wind turbine technician is the fasting growing job in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Unlike nearly every other form of utility-scale energy, wind power uses virtually no water*
- Wind energy costs have been reduced from more than 55 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in 1980 to under 6 cents/kWh today in areas with good wind resources**
*Source: Wind Energy Foundation windenergyfoundation.org
**Source: U.S. Department of Energy
Downloadable b-roll available here.
