GHG Emissions, Sourcing Renewables, Wind  -  April 17, 2018

Merck signs wind VPPA

Merck announced on Apr. 17 a virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) for 60 MW of renewable energy. Electricity will be generated from Invenergy’s Santa Rita East wind farm near San Angelo, Texas, which is expected to be online in 2019.

The company noted in a statement that this 12-year VPPA significantly advances progress towards its 2025 goal to have more than 50% of its purchased electricity from renewable sources, with a goal of 100% by 2040. The agreement will also enable the development of a new wind asset and reduce Merck’s greenhouse gas emissions by more than 100,000 metric tons per year over the life of the agreement. In addition to VPPAs, Merck’s global strategy employs third-party provided green power and on-site installations to reach these goals.

 "We have a responsibility to use our resources wisely as we drive innovation in global health care while protecting and preserving the planet and our communities," said Danielle Menture, vice president, global safety & environment, Merck. "Our sustainability goals address the rising expectations of our stakeholders about the environmental impacts of our operations, energy use, supply chain, and packaging."

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