Hartsville industrial giant partners on company’s first renewable energy project

Listen to this article

Sonoco Products Co., one of the largest global sustainable packaging companies, and ENGIE North America have entered into a virtual power purchase agreement for production from ENGIE’s Big Sampson Wind Project, a wind power project currently under construction in Crockett County, Texas.

Under the agreement and subject to certain conditions, Hartsville-headquartered Sonoco and ENGIE have agreed to contract for an estimated 140 megawatts of electricity per year, representing approximately 48% of Sonoco’s U.S. electricity consumption in 2025 and approximately 52% of the expected output capacity of Big Sampson, according to a news release. The agreement is for a term of 15 years beginning with Big Sampson’s entry into commercial operation.

Sonoco says the agreement represents another step in the company’s integrated approach to corporate sustainability. The company aims to reduce global Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 25% by 2030 from a 2020 baseline through various corporate initiatives, including improved packaging design, installing energy-efficient equipment and procuring renewable energy sources, the news release said. The virtual power purchase agreement is an example of these efforts, with renewable energy credits acquired under the agreement expected to help reduce Sonoco’s baseline carbon emissions by approximately 14%, the release stated.

Related story: Energy company establishes HQ in Columbia with acquisition

Related story: Utility makes 4 property transactions in southeastern South Carolina

“Collaborative projects like Big Sampson have the potential to help us make progress toward our emissions targets while delivering clean, reliable power to the communities they serve,” Elizabeth Rhue, Sonoco’s vice president of Environmental, Sustainability & Technical Services. “We are grateful for this long-term partnership with ENGIE as we work together to protect the environment and future generations and continue our promise of delivering ‘Better Packaging. Better Life’ solutions.”

Big Sampson is a project of ENGIE, which works around the world on net zero energy transition. The project is currently expected to complete in late 2025 and will be an addition to ENGIE North America’s more than seven gigawatts of renewable energy production in operation or under construction across the United States and Canada, the release stated.

“We are honored that Sonoco selected ENGIE to support their first VPPA, reflecting their commitment to the energy transition. ENGIE’s record of consistently and reliably delivering projects to meet our customer needs is something we are very proud of,” Dave Carroll, chief renewables officer for ENGIE North America, said in the release. “The commitment of customers like Sonoco enables the acceleration of projects that underpin the pathway to a net zero future.”

The Big Sampson Wind Project is designed to consist of 60 wind turbines, each expected to have a generating capacity of 4.5 megawatts. The project will employ roughly 400 skilled construction professionals and once operational, about 10 to 15 full-time professionals will support the system on-site.

In addition to jobs, Big Sampson is expected to provide long-term tax revenues for both Crocket County and local school districts of more than $60 million over the 15-year life of the project.

With net sales of approximately $6.8 billion in 2023, the Sonoco has approximately 23,000 employees working in more than 300 operations around the world.

Based in Houston, Texas, ENGIE North America Inc. is a regional hub of ENGIE, a global company in the low-carbon energy and services space. It is listed on the Paris and Brussels Stock Exchanges.