Ikea Invests in 2nd U.S. Wind Farm

November 18, 2014  by in Furniture Retailing, Green, Industry   

Located in Cameron County, Texas, the 165-watt wind farm will contribute to the company’s 2020 goal of producing as much renewable energy as the total energy it consumes. The Cameron wind farm is expected to be fully operational late next year.

Earlier this year Ikea announced its first U.S. wind farm purchase located in Hoopeston, Ill. The Cameron wind farm will be more than one-and-a-half times the size of the Hoopeston project. Together, the wind farms are expected to generate nearly 1,000 gigawatt hours of electricity per year, which is equivalent to the average annual electricity consumption of around 90,000 American households, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration's average residential monthly bill.

"Ikea believes that the climate challenge requires bold commitment and action," says Rob Olson, Ikea U.S. acting president and CFO. "We invest in renewable energy to become more sustainable as a business and also because it makes good business sense. And as a home furnishings retailer with sustainability in our roots, we are committed to providing products and solutions that help our customers be more sustainable in their everyday lives."

The retailer has committed to own and operate 279 wind turbines in nine countries, and will invest a total of $1.9 billion in wind and solar power up to the end of 2015. 

Ikea’s renewable energy investments in the U.S. to date now include: 104 wind turbines located on wind farms in Hoopeston and Cameron; 165,000 solar panels installed on 90 percent of IKEA buildings across the U.S., providing an additional 38 megawatts installed capacity; and geothermal integrated into the heating and cooling systems of two U.S. store locations, in Centennial, Colo., and Merriam, Kan.