EDF Renewable Energy announced today that the 154 megawatt (MW) Rock Falls Wind Project (Project) has begun commercial operation. Kimberly-Clark Corporation  signed an agreement earlier this year with EDF RE for 120 MW of generation which marks Kimberly-Clark’s first utility scale use of renewable energy.

Rock Falls Wind Project, located in Kay and Grant Counties in northern Oklahoma, consists of wind turbines and various components manufactured in the USA. The project has created more than 150 jobs since start of construction in July 2017 along with millions of dollars injected into the local economy.

“We applaud America’s corporate sector and companies like Kimberly-Clark, who through the purchase of wind energy demonstrate leadership in the drive for a low-carbon economy,” said Ryan Pfaff, Executive Vice President for EDF Renewable Energy. Their commitment allowed Rock Falls to proceed, providing an economic boost to the Oklahoma economy, through new construction and operations jobs, expanded tax base, and recurring, long-term income for participating landowners.”

“We are proud to partner with EDF Renewable Energy on the Rock Falls project, which marks a significant step in Kimberly-Clark’s Energy and Climate strategy,” said Lisa Morden, Global Head of Sustainability, Kimberly-Clark.

Kimberly-Clark operates a number of manufacturing facilities across North America (and other parts of the world), including a tissue and towel manufacturing facility in Jenks, Oklahoma, which produces products for the Kleenex, Scott, Cottonelle and Viva brands. “As a point of comparison, the electricity purchased from the Rock Falls wind project would offset 1.5 times the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the electricity consumption at the Jenks, Oklahoma manufacturing plant,” said Morden.

Rock Falls marks EDF RE’s second project in Oklahoma. In 2016, the Company completed the Great Western Wind Project which supplies Google with its output of electricity.

EDF RE is the #1 developer among corporate buyers with 930 MWs contracted, which demonstrates the trust that environmentally-conscious companies place in EDF RE to deliver value. Kimberly-Clark joins the Company’s growing North America portfolio of corporate purchasers including Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, Walmart and Yahoo.

EDF Renewable Services, the leading provider of renewable operations and maintenance services in North America, will provide balance-of-plant operations and maintenance for the facility.

EDF Renewable Energy is one of the largest renewable energy developers in North America with 9 GW of wind, solar, storage, biomass, and biogas projects developed throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.