Industrial, Solar, Sourcing Renewables  -  March 9, 2021

Bridgestone installs first solar array

Bridgestone, a global provider of tires and sustainable mobility solutions, announced on March 2 that it has installed its first ground-mounted solar array, providing power directly to its manufacturing process. The array is a step toward meeting the company’s goal to reduce CO2 emissions by 50% by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2050

The array is located at the company’s passenger/light truck tire plant in Graniteville, South Carolina. The new installation includes approximately eight acres of solar panels that generate 2 MW of energy while reducing 1,400 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually.

“Renewable energy has many benefits for the environment and Bridgestone, most notably the reduction in CO2 emissions and reduced energy costs,” Jim DeMouy, vice president, Environment, Health, Safety and Sustainability, Bridgestone Americas, said in a statement. “Bridgestone is grateful for the support of state and local leaders and community partners who worked with us to make this solar array a reality.”

The plant was LEED-certified by the U.S. Green Building Council and is a Certified Habitat by the National Wildlife Habitat Council and has been honored by gaining membership to the South Carolina Environmental Excellence Program, which required an extensive evaluation of the many deliberate efforts by the plant to promote environmental protection. Recently, the plant partnered with Clemson University, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use its solar array as a pilot for the development of a sustainable ground covering using native South Carolina plants to encourage native, low-maintenance biodiverse vegetation in and around solar arrays in the state.

In addition, Bridgestone offers a variety of programs through its onsite learning center in Aiken County where it provides free community outreach and training as part of the Bridgestone Environmental Education Program, which has received state and national recognition.