Ferguson, a plumbing and heating products distributor, has signed a virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) for 65 MW of clean wind energy from ENGIE North America’s Century Oak wind project in Callahan County, Texas.
The agreement with ENGIE North America, a subsidiary of French utility firm ENGIE, is expected to significantly contribute to Ferguson’s annual electricity needs in the U.S. and Canada.
The deal aligns with Ferguson’s strategy to reduce its environmental footprint through fleet management, energy-efficient facility upgrades, investment in onsite solar, and the pursuit of offsite renewable energy opportunities. The VPPA agreement is estimated to generate the power equivalent to the annual electricity needs of over 34,000 average U.S. homes.
The Century Oak wind project is part of ENGIE’s portfolio of nearly 7 GW of wind, solar, and storage projects, either operational or under construction in North America. This 153-MW project is expected to provide long-term benefits to the Callahan County community, including tax revenues of approximately $14 million to support county services and an additional $19 million in revenues to the local school district over the project’s 30-year lifespan.
Construction is already underway at Century Oak and is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
“We are honored that Ferguson chose ENGIE to be part of their energy transition and the role Century Oak will play in their sustainability journey,” said Dave Carroll, Chief Renewables Officer, ENGIE North America. “These are long-term projects that will not only produce renewable power, but provide jobs, tax revenues, and economic growth, and we are privileged that the Callahan County community is part of this journey.”