Lightsource bp, a joint venture between energy company bp and Lightsource bp management, that develops, funds and manages utility-scale solar PV projects, announced agreements with McDonald’s and eBay, to supply electricity from a new 345 megawatt solar project located outside Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
The Ventress Solar farm be the largest in the state, generating over 600,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of clean energy annually. Construction is expected to start as early as this year, with commercial operation beginning mid-2023. Construction costs for the project are estimated at over $300 million. Lightsource bp will be the developer, long-term owner and operator of the project.
Kevin Smith, CEO of the Americas for Lightsource bp, said:
“This agreement is a great example of the teamwork needed to achieve our mutual goals for a healthier, more sustainable and resilient planet and economy for generations to come. Customer aggregation deals such as this allow businesses of varying sizes and energy needs to come together and spur meaningful development of clean and affordable energy sources in the US. This collaborative agreement by McDonald’s and eBay is a model we hope others will replicate.”
According to the companies, the new agreement will contribute towards their progress on their sustainability commitments, including McDonald’s target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 36% by 2030, and eBay’s goal to source 100% renewable energy by 2025.
Emma Cox, Global Renewable Energy Lead at McDonald’s, said:
“As one of the world’s largest restaurant companies, McDonald’s is uniquely positioned to help spur significant action around climate change. Our renewable energy deal with Lightsource bp will not only create Louisiana’s largest solar project and serve as the latest milestone in making significant progress toward our science-based emissions reduction target for 2030, but also demonstrate our belief that meaningful solutions to building a sustainable future require partnership and collaboration.”
Renee Morin, Chief Sustainability Officer at eBay, added:
“At eBay, investing in clean energy remains a focus of our business as we aim to attain 100 percent renewable energy by 2025. This project enables us to source the clean energy equivalent of our data center. Our collaboration with Lightsource bp and McDonald’s uniquely propels our shared goal to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy.”
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