Will Help L'Oréal Achieve Sustainability Goals for its U.S. Manufacturing
LITTLE ROCK, September 20th, 2016 – Scenic Hill Solar today announced that it has partnered with L’Oréal USA to develop two large-scale commercial solar projects in North Little Rock, Arkansas and Florence, Kentucky.
“Scenic Hill Solar has partnered with L'Oréal USA to develop a 1.5 Megawatt DC solar power plant at L’Oréal USA’s Florence, Kentucky manufacturing facility, making it Kentucky’s largest commercial solar array,” said Bill Halter, CEO of Scenic Hill Solar. "At L’Oréal USA’s North Little Rock, Arkansas manufacturing facility, Scenic Hill Solar will develop a 1.2 Megawatt DC solar power plant, making it Arkansas’s third largest commercial solar array and the state’s fourth largest solar project.”
The Florence, Kentucky solar array will utilize approximately 5,000 solar panels mounted on the manufacturing facility's roof. The North Little Rock, Arkansas solar array will utilize approximately 4,000 solar panels mounted on single-axis tracking systems and will extend over 8 acres of land adjacent to L'Oréal's manufacturing facility. These solar power arrays together with other announced initiatives will help L'Oréal in its plan to utilize 100 percent renewable electricity in its United States manufacturing facilities.
“When we set out to achieve our sustainability goals, we knew we needed to find a good partner on the ground to help us carry out these projects.” said Richard Jones, Head of Manufacturing for L’Oreal USA. “Scenic Hill has been fantastic throughout the process and we’re proud to be working with them.”
Construction of both solar projects is set to begin in late 2016 and both are expected to be operational by mid-2017. Each site will create 25 new construction jobs for an average of four months in duration in both Arkansas and Kentucky. Together these two solar power plants will produce over 107 million kilowatt-hours of electricity over the next 30 years and lower L’Oreal USA’s carbon emissions by over 75,000 tons.
“These solar power projects are great examples that companies can both reduce their energy costs and operate sustainably,” said Halter. “L’Oréal USA will benefit from lower energy costs, long-term energy price certainty, and meeting its compelling sustainability goals. We commend our partner L'Oréal on their demonstrated, powerful leadership in sustainability."
About Scenic Hill Solar: Scenic Hill Solar provides clients clean electricity, reduced energy prices and long-term electricity price certainty by developing client specific solar energy plans. Scenic Hill Solar provides clients either lower priced electricity under contract or turnkey delivery of solar power plants, depending on our clients' specific needs. Scenic Hill Solar Headquarters are located in Little Rock, AR.
Visit the company online at www.ScenicHillSolar.com.
Scenic Hill Solar’s CEO is former Arkansas Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter: www.ScenicHillSolar.com/BillHalter
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FACT SHEET
» The North Little Rock solar array will provide L’Oréal USA with 1.2 Megawatts of renewable solar power and will produce over 56,000,000 kilowatt hours of electricity over the next 30 years. The array will lock in electricity costs for the next 30 years and thus protect L’Oréal from future electricity price volatility.
» The North Little Rock array is projected to reduce carbon emissions in Arkansas by 1,326 metric tons per year, equivalent to eliminating nearly 3.2 million miles traveled by passenger cars per year, according to EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies.
» L’Oréal USA’s North Little Rock factory is 446,691 sq. ft. and has operated in Arkansas for over four decades, and is home to cosmetics production for brands including Maybelline, L’Oréal Paris, Essie and Lancôme.
» L’Oréal USA is the fourth largest industrial employer in the Greater Little Rock Arkansas area and its plant has nearly 500 employees.
» The Florence Kentucky solar array will provide L’Oréal USA with 1.5 Megawatts of renewable solar power and will produce over 50,000,000 kilowatt hours of electricity over the next 30 years. The array will lock in electricity costs for the next 30 years and thus protect L’Oréal from future electricity price volatility.
» The Florence solar array is projected to cut CO2 emissions in Kentucky by approximately 1,195 metric tons per year, equivalent to eliminating over nearly 2.8 million miles traveled by passenger cars per year, according to EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies.
» L’Oréal USA’s Florence factory is 687,000 sq. ft. and has operated in Kentucky for over 25 years and is where haircare products are made for the Garnier, L’Oréal Paris, Matrix, and Redken brands. It is the company’s largest manufacturing site in the U.S. and the largest worldwide by tonnage of haircare product produced.
» L’Oréal USA’s Florence factory has over 400 employees.
