Toyota, Huntsville Utilities Announce 168-acre Solar Plan

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Huntsville Utilities, Toyota (NYSE: TM) Alabama and Toyota Tsusho America* (TAI) have announced a power purchase agreement to support a 168-acre, $49 million solar project. The 30-megawatt solar-generated system will be located in the North Huntsville Industrial Park, surrounding the Toyota engine plant. (autoinformed.com on: Milestones: 50 Million Toyota Corollas or 12 Generations )

“Toyota is taking a transparent, science-based approach to address climate change,” said Jason Puckett, president of Toyota Alabama. “By relying on the sun to power our operations, we will reduce our carbon footprint and create a model of environmental stewardship in North Alabama.”

The solar project is expected to generate 62,000 megawatt hours annually, reducing ~22,000 metric tons of CO₂ emissions per year. That’s enough solar energy to power more than 5600 U.S. homes. This project is the latest step towards achieving Toyota’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality in its operations by 2035. The solar facility is scheduled to begin generating solar energy in summer of 2024.

The PPA with Huntsville Utilities marks a new age of clean energy production for the municipal utility company. Through its long-term agreement with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), this facility likely will be the largest flexibility project in the region, pioneering a shift in TVA’s relationship with local power companies across the Tennessee River Valley.

“Huntsville Utilities is constantly looking for opportunities to innovate and enhance the nature in which we serve our community,” said Wes Kelley, president of Huntsville Utilities. “Due to our collaboration with Toyota, TAI and TVA, we are helping shape the future for communities and companies in the region and beyond. We are both proud and thankful to be a part of this project with Toyota.”

Since Toyota Alabama started production in 2003, the plant has expanded six times and represents a $1.5 billion investment. During 2022, Toyota Alabama’s 1900 employees assembled more than 665,000 engines and hybrid engines. The plant supplies engines for the Toyota Tundra, Corolla Cross and Sienna.

*Toyota Tsusho America

For more than 60 years in the U.S., Toyota Tsusho America, Inc. (TAI), together with its subsidiaries and affiliates,claims it has been solving business challenges. “Leaders in exporting and importing, supply chain management, new manufacturing, intermediate goods processing, and logistics in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, TAI’s North American team of more than 7000 are proven experts in making it happen.”