Rio Tinto moves to renewable electricity at Kennecott copper
02 May 2019
Rio Tinto will reduce the annual carbon footprint associated with its Kennecott Utah Copper operation by as much as 65% by purchasing renewable energy certificates and permanently shutting its coal power plant.
Kennecott’s electricity needs will now be paired with 1.5 million megawatt hours of renewable energy certificates supplied by Rocky Mountain Power, primarily sourced from its Utah allocated portfolio including wind power from Wyoming.
The change will reduce the annual carbon footprint associated with the operation by more than one million tonnes CO2.
This move will significantly reduce emissions associated with our operations in Kennecott and allow us to offer customers copper, gold and silver with a reduced carbon footprint. The materials we produce, from infinitely recyclable aluminium and copper used in electrification to borates used in energy-efficient building materials and our higher grade iron ore product, all play a part in this transition to a low-carbon economy. Rio Tinto will continue to work with partners and customers to develop new sustainable solutions.
—Rio Tinto chief executive J-S Jacques
The move to support renewable power is the result of collaboration with the Utah government, local communities and Rocky Mountain Power to improve air quality and deliver an alternative power solution.
This is the latest initiative to make Kennecott greener. Since 2005, it has been smelting scrap metal such as old copper wiring into its smelting process. In 2018, it processed more than 2.8 million pounds of copper from recycled scrap metal, enough to provide the electrical wiring in 6,400 new homes.
The renewable energy certificates are Green-e Energy certified and meet the environmental and consumer-protection standards set forth by the nonprofit Center for Resource Solutions.
Renewable energy certificates are proof that renewable energy has been generated and delivered to the electricity grid on the owner’s behalf from renewable sources such as solar or wind power. For each megawatt-hour of renewable energy generated, a certificate is created. The move to using renewable energy certificates at Kennecott is subject to regulatory approval by the Utah Public Service Commission.
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