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Who knew wind could be so sweet? Mars candy and Duke Energy did

Duke Energy Renewables has acquired a 50 percent stake in Mesquite Creek Wind near Lamesa, Texas, through its joint venture partnership with Sumitomo Corp. of Americas -- increasing Duke Energy Renewables' Texas wind capacity to more than 1,200 MW.Global food manufacturer Mars Inc., best known for its candy products, is purchasing the power and associated renewable energy credits from the 211 MW wind farm, which is already operational, over a 20-year period.

Published 9 years ago | About a 2 minute read

Global food manufacturer Mars Inc., best known for its candy products, is purchasing the power and associated renewable energy credits from the 211 MW wind farm, which is already operational, over a 20-year period.

"Mars is an industry leader in using sustainable business practices to meet its customers' needs," said Greg Wolf, president of Duke Energy's Commercial Portfolio. "We're proud to partner with Sumitomo to provide emissions-free wind energy to Mars and help them achieve their goal of carbon neutral operations by 2040."

Mesquite Creek Wind consists of 118 1.7 MW wind turbines -- enough to provide electricity for Mars' entire U.S. operations comprised of 70 sites, including 37 factories. The energy produced is enough to make 13 billion Snickers bars or 188 billion sticks of Orbit gum.

With an annual output of more than 800,000 MWh, the energy created from the wind farm will represent 24 percent of Mars' total global factory and office carbon footprint -- representing the biggest long-term commitment to renewable energy use of any food manufacturing business in the United States.

The wind farm is just one of the ways Mars is achieving its goal to make its operations 'Sustainable in a Generation' by eliminating greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. In the short term, Mars has committed to reduce fossil fuel energy and greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2015, using 2007 as its baseline. The Mesquite Creek wind farm will enable Mars to meet this 2015 goal.

"We are committed to doing our part to limit climate change. We are, therefore, delighted to be announcing this major renewable project that takes us a big step towards our goal of becoming carbon neutral in our operations," said Barry Parkin, chief sustainability officer at Mars, Incorporated. "This is an innovative approach that makes great business and environmental sense."

In addition to the Mesquite Creek wind farm, located in Dawson and Borden counties, about eight miles from Lamesa, Duke Energy Renewables also operates these Texas projects: