DENVER — Ardent Mills, the premier flour-milling and ingredient company, today announced that it has signed a 25-year agreement with US Solar to purchase an expected 1.8 million kWh annually under a subscription plan supporting US Solar’s Goodhue County, Minnesota solar gardens. The subscription plan is expected to reduce energy costs at Ardent Mills’ Hastings Mill, the first operating mill in Minnesota. Although the solar gardens will not directly provide power to the Hastings Mill, Ardent Mills’ agreement to subscribe to these solar gardens is crucial in enabling the gardens to be built, bringing more solar energy onto the local electrical grid.
Ardent Mills is actively engaged in the pursuit of sustainability improvements to benefit communities, customers and consumers. The company is committed to being an industry leader in corporate responsibility in all aspects of operations, continuing the efforts established by the company’s legacy operations and parent companies.
“Ardent Mills’ subscription is key to US Solar’s development of the solar gardens in Goodhue County. These gardens will bring more clean, local solar energy onto the electric grid,” said Martin Mobley, US Solar CEO.
Other subscribers to US Solar’s gardens include residents and public entities, including many Minnesota cities and schools. The first solar garden has started construction and is anticipated to be online later this year.
“These projects are in line with our commitment to sustainable energy and will further bolster the renewable energy market in Minnesota,” said Jeff Zyskowski, VP Supply Chain at Ardent Mills and the Senior Leadership Team sponsor regarding sustainability. “Supporting renewable energy in any capacity is a priority for Ardent Mills and critical piece of our strategic plan for growth.”
Ardent Mills has built a team to conceptualize, research and implement projects that will make a positive environmental impact, including hiring a full-time Sustainability Lead, Phoenix Dugger.
Last year, Ardent Mills also invested in sustainable energy solutions in Kansas at its Newton and Wichita community mills. The facilities enrolled in Westar’s new Green Energy Program, under which program they anticipate receiving a substantial portion of their energy from the newly-constructed Soldier Creek Wind Energy Center. By choosing renewable energy, Ardent Mills estimates that it will reduce its total carbon footprint by over 29,000 metric tons each year.
Learn more about the Ardent Mills commitment to sustainable changes here.
About Ardent Mills
Ardent Mills is the premier flour-milling and ingredient company whose vision is to be the trusted partner in nurturing its customers, consumers and communities through innovative and nutritious grain-based solutions. Ardent Mills’ operations and services are supported by 40 flour mills and bakery-mix facilities along with a specialty bakery and Mobile Innovation Center, all located in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. Deeply rooted in communities throughout North America, Ardent Mills is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, and employs more than 100 certified millers, supporting thousands of local jobs and contributing billions of dollars to local economies. To learn more about Ardent Mills, visit Ardent Mills.
About US Solar
United States Solar Corporation and its subsidiaries (“US Solar”) make solar energy accessible with simple solutions that are as good for the wallet as they are for the environment. US Solar is a developer, owner, operator, and financier of solar generation projects with a focus on emerging markets and community solar programs. With its primary offices in Minnesota and Connecticut, US Solar helps residents, public entities, and businesses reduce electricity costs with local, renewable energy. Additional information about US Solar and community solar subscriptions can be found by visiting https://us-solar.com/ and https://facebook.com/USSOLARcorp/.
