Technology
Ferguson, ENGIE Partner on 65 MW Wind Energy Project
The agreement could generate the power equivalent to the annual electricity needs of more than 34,000 average U.S. homes.
On Oct. 3, plumbing, HVAC, PVF and industrial supplies distributor Ferguson announced it is partnering with Texas-based ENGIE North America Inc. on a renewable energy project located about 160 miles from Dallas.
The project is a 65-MW Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) from ENGIE’s Century Oak wind project located in Callahan County, according to a news release announcing the collaboration. Houston-based ENGIE North America is a regional hub of ENGIE, a global provider of low-carbon energy and services.
“This VPPA between ENGIE and Ferguson, a leading value-added distributor providing expertise, solutions and products from infrastructure, plumbing and appliances to HVAC, fire, fabrication and more, is expected to generate enough clean wind power to match a significant portion of Ferguson’s annual electricity use in the United States and Canada,” Ferguson said in a statement.
Ferguson said the collaboration is part of the company’s strategy to reduce its environmental footprint through fleet management, energy-efficient upgrades across its facilities, investing in onsite solar and “seeking offsite renewable energy opportunities.” The agreement is expected to generate enough power to meet the annual electrical needs of more than 34,000 average U.S. homes, the company said
In a July 2022 MDM Podcast, Ferguson’s Denise Vaughn talks about how the company conducts operations with a lighter footprint while creating positive impact for its stakeholders.
The 30-year project is part of ENGIE’s nearly 7 GW of wind, solar and storage in operation or construction across North America. The 153-MW project is expected to become a long-term contributor to the 13,000 residents of the Callahan County community, Ferguson said.
It’s expected to generate tax revenues of around $14 million to support county services and another $19 million in revenues to local schools.
“Century Oak reflects our commitment to reducing our environmental impact across our operations and represents a significant milestone for our business,” said Denise Vaughn, Vice President Environmental, Social and Governance, Ferguson. “We are delighted to work with ENGIE and Schneider Electric on Century Oak which delivers renewable, reliable and cost-effective energy to the grid.”
The project is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
Earlier this year, Ferguson appeared on eight of MDM’s 17 Top Distributors Lists, including No. 1 on plumbing, No. 2 on HVACR, No. 2 on PVF, No. 3 on industrial, No. 8 on MRO and No. 7 on building materials/construction.
