Organic Valley co-op becomes world leader on renewable energy

The organic farm co-op is now the world's biggest food company to be 100% powered by clean energy US farm co-op Organic Valley has completed work on three community solar projects which mean it is now 100% powered by renewables. The news makes it the largest food company in the world to source all its energy from renewables – in line with a pledge made by Organic Valley in 2017 as part of its efforts to build a sustainable food system for the USA. The new solar projects are part of the 32 MWdc Butter Solar Portfolio, owned and operated by BluEarth Renewables US, which will provide 23,000 people across 10 Midwest communities, including six in Organic Valley’s portfolio, with reduced energy costs for more than 25 years. The sites will feature grazing sheep and pollinator habitats under the panels. Organic Valley has worked on the project with with OneEnergy Renewables and the Upper Midwest Municipal Energy Group (Ummeg). In late 2018, BluEarth Renewables acquired Butter Solar and they began construction in January 2019. In a blog post on its website, Organic Valley said there were challenges for its team to overcome in meeting the ambitious 100% target.