Marathon To Run Refinery With Wind Energy -- May 21, 2021

From Geoff Simon:

Marathon Petroleum Corporation has announced plans to install five 2.3 megawatt wind turbines that will provide electricity to its renewable diesel facility near Dickinson.

MPC contracted with One Energy, which will own and operate the turbines. They are expected to generate more than 40 million kilowatt hours of energy each year, providing approximately 45% of the renewable diesel facility’s electricity needs. Marathon will pay a fixed price for the wind power delivered by One Energy for a period of 20 years. 

MPC Executive Vice President of Refining Ray Brooks said the project is a win for lower-carbon fuels and company performance.

“Lowering the carbon intensity of the renewable fuels we produce at our Dickinson facility helps us to capture additional value in the markets we serve and enhance the overall sustainability of our operations," Brooks said. 

Lowering the carbon intensity of renewable fuels produced at the Dickinson facility also aligns with MPC’s objective of reducing its companywide greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 30% below 2014 levels by 2030.

One Energy CEO Jereme Kent said the project will also contribute to MPC’s role as a good neighbor in Dickinson. He said his company intends to offer annual scholarship opportunities to students pursuing a technical career.

“For each turbine, One Energy will provide a $5,000 ‘Megawatt Scholarship’ to local high school graduates pursuing two- or four-year degrees in science, technology, engineering or math," Kent said. "That’s $25,000 for every year the turbines are operating.”