Whirlpool Corporation recently broke ground on a project to build three wind turbines to help power its manufacturing facility in Marion, Ohio. When fully completed, the turbines are expected to provide approximately 19 percent of the facility’s total power consumption and eliminate more than 9,000 tons of carbon dioxide. The project is scheduled for completion in early 2017.
"We're always exploring cutting-edge technologies that will bring us closer to accomplishing our sustainability goals," said Ron Voglewede, director of global sustainability at Whirlpool. "We're excited to bring a local focus for our global commitment to sustainability here in the Marion community and throughout Ohio, where we have significant investments in employees and facilities."
Whirlpool's Marion facility is the country’s largest employer, with the plant's 2,400 employees producing an average of 4 million clothes dryers every year. This latest wind project is part of the company’s plans to strengthen its commitment to American manufacturing in Ohio.
"The wind turbines are not only a responsible investment for the environment but also a smart financial decision," said James Gifford, the Marion facility’s plant lead. "By reducing our electricity consumption, we expect to cut down on our overhead costs significantly."
The Marion plant is one of three facilities in Ohio where Whirlpool is implementing wind energy to partially power its manufacturing operations. Two wind turbines at the company's Findlay plant have been operational since January 2016. In October 2016, a similar project began at Whirlpool’s Ottawa facility.
For more information, visit www.WhirlpoolCorp.com.
