PLANO, Texas, July 24, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Toyota Motor North
America (TMNA) is committing to aggressively reduce its carbon
output in the United States by
entering into Virtual Power Purchase Agreements (VPPAs). It will
use them to reduce emissions from its North American operations by
up to forty percent over the next 3 years.
The move represents another major step towards Toyota's
Environmental Challenge 2050 goal of cutting global emissions from
plant operations to zero by the year 2050.
Under the VPPAs, which the company expects to commence later
this year, TMNA will contract with renewable energy providers to
generate wind and solar power that will be provided directly to
regional electric grids. The supply of renewable power is expected
to reduce use of fossil fuels while improving the sustainability of
the electric grid in the area.
By powering its operations from the enhanced grid and applying
Renewable Energy Credits earned by funding the generation of
renewable electricity, Toyota expects to substantially offset
emissions from its facilities in North
America.
"Toyota has long been defined by its commitment to responsible
environmental practices, and we're proud to build upon that great
legacy today," said Kevin Butt, General Manager and Regional
Environmental Sustainability Director for Toyota Motor North
America. "We are committed to setting an example of sustainability
that goes beyond vehicles to show how a company can significantly
reduce the environmental impact of its operations. By cutting our
U.S. emissions by forty percent, we will be that much closer to our
goal of having a net positive impact on the environment by the
middle of this century."
Toyota's VPPA program is the result of more than six years of
research into how best to reduce and offset emissions from the
company's operations, working in partnership with MIT, the National Renewable Energy Lab, the Rocky
Mountain Institute, and others. It is part of a wider effort across
the company to reduce the environmental impact of enterprise
operations as it also works to limit vehicle emissions.
This endeavor supports Toyota's Environmental Challenge 2050.
Launched in 2015, the Challenge sets out six objectives for the
company's global operations, including:
- A ninety percent reduction in global average CO2 emissions from
new vehicles vs. 2010 levels;
- The complete elimination of CO2 emissions from the entire
vehicle life cycle; zero emissions at all manufacturing plants
worldwide;
- Minimizing water usage and implementing water discharge
management protocols;
- Promoting global deployment of end-of-life vehicle treatment
and recycling, and;
- Connecting and promoting nature conservation activities outside
of the Toyota Group in the communities where we operate.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the
U.S. and North America for more
than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable,
next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus
brands. During that time, Toyota has created a tremendous
value chain as our teams have contributed to world-class design,
engineering, and assembly of more than 38 million cars and trucks
in North America, where we operate
14 manufacturing plants (10 in the U.S.) and directly employ more
than 47,000 people (more than 37,000 in the U.S.). Our 1,800
North American dealerships (nearly 1,500 in the U.S.) sold 2.8
million cars and trucks (2.4 million in the U.S.) in 2018 – and
about 87 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 16 years
are still on the road today.
Through the Start Your Impossible campaign, Toyota highlights
the way it partners with community, civic, academic and
governmental organizations to address our society's most pressing
mobility challenges. We believe that when people are free to move,
anything is possible. For more information about Toyota, visit
www.toyotanewsroom.com.
Media Contacts
Nathan Kokes
Toyota Motor North America
469-292-3103
nathan.kokes@toyota.com
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SOURCE Toyota Motor North America