DENSO, Silicon Ranch, Maryville Electric and TVA Open First of Four Solar Facilities in Tennessee | News | New

SOUTHFIELD, Michigan and MARYVILLE, Tennessee (November 2, 2022) – DENSOa leading mobility provider, and Silicon Ranch, one of the nation’s largest independent power producers, today broke ground on a new solar facility at DENSO’s facility in Maryville, Tennessee, alongside of the City of Maryville Electric Department and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).

The new solar farm is the first of four solar generation facilities that the group plans to bring online in Tennessee. Harnessing solar energy helps DENSO advance its two great causes: ecology – achieving carbon neutrality by 2035 – and peace of mind – creating a safe and seamless world for all; strengthen its involvement in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Plants Program; and strengthen broader efforts to reduce the environmental impact of its manufacturing operations and energy consumption.

When the solar projects are completed and combined with additional energy conservation initiatives, 100% of DENSO’s Maryville facility electricity needs will come from renewable energy. This will help the Maryville site, which is a manufacturing hub for DENSO electrification and security systems, support greater sustainability locally through its operations and across North America with its products.

The event included a tour of DENSO’s Maryville campus, followed by remarks from representatives of each partner who made the solar installation possible, including:

– Shinichi Nakamizo: President of DENSO’s Maryville Plant and Senior Director of DENSO Corporation
– Andy White: Mayor of Maryville
– Matt Kisber: co-founder and president of Silicon Ranch
– Carol Eimers: Regional Vice-President for the Eastern Region at TVA

“Our mission is to contribute to a better world, and as part of this, we are committed to reducing CO2 emissions, not only through our products, but also in our operations and processes,” said Shinichi Nakamizo, president of the DENSO factory in Maryville. and Senior Director of DENSO Corporation. “We are grateful to Maryville Electric, Silicon Ranch and TVA for helping us realize our commitment. We also thank our team in Maryville, whose leadership is instrumental in this project and helping to move local communities towards a clean energy future.

Through a collaboration with the City of Maryville Electric Department and Silicon Ranch, DENSO will access a portion of the 10.5 megawatts of solar energy produced under TVA’s Generation Flexibility program, beginning with the facility located at DENSO’s Maryville campus. The TVA program allows participating local power companies (LPCs) to generate up to 5% of their total energy load to meet their customers’ renewable energy goals, attract sustainability-focused businesses to their communities, and solve the individual problems of their distribution systems.

“TVA has been bringing renewable energy to the Valley for more than 20 years, and this partnership using TVA’s Greens programs extends the reach of our green renewable solutions to local communities in our region,” said Doug Perry, Vice Senior President, TVA Commercial Energy. Solutions. “With a shared mission in mind, this solar project with Silicon Ranch and others to follow will help us not only achieve our own sustainability goals, but also those of our LPCs and their customers.”

“These solar farms are an incredible opportunity for us to bring renewable energy to our community from a reliable source,” said Baron Swafford, Director of Utilities for the City of Maryville. “TVA’s Generation Flexibility program allows us to combine the unique offerings of DENSO and Silicon Ranch to develop a sustainable source of energy for our communities and those around us in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains.

“Part of what makes these solar installations so special is that every partner involved shares a commitment to the success of this community and the surrounding region,” said Matt Kisber, co-founder and president of Silicon Ranch. “Silicon Ranch is very proud of our Tennessee roots, and our colleague who led our development work here is a Maryville native whose family has been here for seven generations. Every step in the process of achieving these solar farms is further proof of what is possible when people truly care about delivering positive results for the communities we serve.

Inauguration comes after DENSO EV chargers installed this spring at its Maryville plant, a move that allows employees to charge their battery-electric and hybrid vehicles while they’re at work. DENSO is committed to continuous innovation to protect the environment and society.

About DENSO
DENSO is a $45.1 billion global mobility provider that develops advanced technologies and components for nearly every make and model of vehicle on the road today. With manufacturing at the core of its business, DENSO is investing in its 198 facilities to produce an electrification system, powertrain system, thermal system, mobility electronics and advanced devices, to create directly changing jobs. the way the world moves. The company’s more than 167,000 employees are leading the way to a future of mobility that improves lives, eliminates traffic accidents and preserves the environment. Headquartered in Kariya, Japan, DENSO devoted 9.0% of its global consolidated sales to research and development during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022. For more information about DENSO worldwide, please visit https://www.denso.com/global/en/.

In North America, DENSO is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, and employs more than 27,000 engineers, researchers and skilled workers at 51 locations in the United States, Canada and Mexico. In the United States alone, DENSO employs more than 17,700 employees in 14 states (and the District of Columbia) and 41 locations. In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022, DENSO in North America generated $9.5 billion in consolidated sales. DENSO is committed to advancing diversity and inclusion within the company and beyond – a principle that brings together unique perspectives, empowers innovation and drives DENSO forward. Join us and shape not only how the world moves, but also your career: densocareers.com. For more information, visit https://www.denso.com/us-ca/en/

About Silicon Ranch
Founded in 2011, Silicon Ranch is a fully integrated provider of custom renewable energy, carbon and battery storage solutions to a diverse set of partners across North America. The company is one of the nation’s largest independent power producers, with a portfolio that includes more than five gigawatts of solar and battery storage systems under contract, under construction or in operation in the United States and Canada. Silicon Ranch owns and operates every project in its portfolio and has maintained an unblemished record of project execution, having successfully commissioned every project it has contracted over its history. Silicon Ranch has the nation’s largest utility-scale agrivoltaic portfolio under Regenerative Energy®, its nationally recognized holistic approach to design, construction and land management. This model incorporates regenerative livestock and other regenerative land management practices to restore livelihoods and soil health, biodiversity and water quality. In 2021, Silicon Ranch acquired Clearloop, which helps businesses of all sizes recover their carbon footprint through direct investment in building new solar projects while helping to bring renewable energy and economic development to struggling communities. To learn more, visit siliconranch.com, regenerativeenergy.organd clearloop.us. Follow Silicon Ranch on Facebook, instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

About the City of Maryville
The City of Maryville is a municipality in Blount County, Tennessee, serving more than 30,000 residents and 5,000 commercial and industrial customers. Citizens elect a five-member city council that heads a professional city manager to look after the day-to-day business of the city – carried out by more than 300 people who have dedicated their careers to public service. Drawing on the wisdom of 225 years of history, city leaders guide city policies and form innovative partnerships to provide the best options for our community. For more information, visit www.maryvillegov.com

About the Tennessee Valley Authority (VAT)
The Tennessee Valley Authority is a United States commercial agency that supplies electricity to commercial customers and local electric distributors serving nearly 10 million people in parts of seven southeastern states. TVA receives no taxpayer funding and derives virtually all of its revenue from the sale of electricity. In addition to operating and investing its revenues in its electrical system, TVA provides flood control, navigation, and land management for the Tennessee River system, and assists local power companies and state governments. States and locals in economic development and job creation.