The Weather Channel recently visited the Honda Transmission Manufacturing of America plant in Russells Point, Ohio. The plant is the first North American automotive production facility powered by wind power.
The wind project is owned and operated by ConEdison Solutions of Valhalla, New York, one of America's largest energy services companies, and was developed by Juhl Energy.
David Malkoff, correspondent for The Weather Channel visited the Honda plant earlier this year. The Honda plant is the first major automotive manufacturing facility in the United States to obtain a substantial amount of its electricity directly from wind turbines located on its property.
The two operating wind turbines, with blades that are approximately 160 feet long installed on 260-foot towers, are expected to supply approximately 10 percent of the plant's electricity. Based on their location and actual wind speeds, the combined output from the two wind turbines is estimated at 10,000-megawatt hours (MWH) per year.
Tyler Juhl, VP of Juhl Energy Services, Inc. provided Malkoff and his production team with access to the towers and the amazing views from the top of the turbines. "It was great having The Weather Channel at the Honda facility and giving them an opportunity to show that renewable energy definitely has applications for the traditional manufacturing industry," stated Juhl.
"Wind power is our country's fastest-growing energy source, and The Weather Channel's coverage is an ideal way to help Americans appreciate wind power's many applications," said Jorge Lopez, CEO of ConEdison Solutions.
Globally, Honda (NYSE: HMC) has established voluntary goals to reduce the environmental impact of its products and manufacturing operations by 2020. This includes a 30 percent reduction in CO2 emissions from Honda products, and significant CO2 reductions from the company's plants and other operations, compared with year 2000 levels.
To achieve these new environmental targets, Honda is accelerating its efforts to advance the environmental performance of its products, and its operations throughout North America. The newly installed wind turbines at their Russels Point, Ohio facility is among a number of other initiatives at Honda plants to reduce energy use and waste from manufacturing operations.
