Rivian celebrates green energy milestone in Normal

NORMAL (25News Now) - All vehicles made at Rivian Automotive in Normal will soon get their first electric charges with all renewable energy produced by the company’s new wind turbine and solar panel yard.

Construction of the wind turbine started in May. It’s operational now along with the 783-kilowatt solar canopy installed at the plant last year, according to a Rivian news release.

Rivian said its goal is to develop “high-impact projects” that reduce its carbon footprint.

“While we’re working hard to help electrify transportation, we’re also pushing to accelerate the shift to carbon-free electricity for all,” Andrew Peterman, Rivian’s director of renewable energy, said in a prepared statement.

“This wind turbine is an early step on that path, and it’s also a beacon of our vision for a clean energy future,” Peterman also said.

The company says the turbine is designed for a capacity of at least 2.8 megawatts and to be capable of generating nearly 10 million kilowatt-hours of electricity a year, enough to power 890 average U.S. homes.

During its 25-year lifetime, Rivian said its turbine is estimated to avoid about 177,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions, equal to taking roughly 34,000 internal combustion engine vehicles off the road for a year. Rivian believes the turbine will save millions of dollars in energy costs during its lifespan.

Rivian has signed the Climate Pledge to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, which is 10-years ahead of Paris Agreement provisions.

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