CLAYTON – Novo Nordisk is going to build a $70 million solar farm in Pender County as part of the drug giant’s plan to power all its production with renewable electricity over the next two years.
The company operates a huge insulin production plant in Johnston County.
Novo Nordisk, which is based in Denmark, also plans to achieve “zero carbon emissions from operations and transportation” over the next decade.
The solar farm, which is being built by Cypress Creek Renewables, is designed to produce 105 megawatts of power. One megwatts provides enough power for 750 homes.
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“Reducing our environmental impact is part of our corporate responsibility to the patients we serve, the communities in which we operate and future generations,” said Chad Henry corporate vice president and general manager of the Diabetes Finished Products site in Clayton, in a statement.
“For us, the call to act is clear, and we are making a significant financial investment in new renewable energy production in North Carolina to supply Novo Nordisk offices, manufacturing facilities and laboratories across the United States.”
Electricity from the site will be distributed among Novo Nordisk operations in the US, including an expansion currently underway in Johnston County, the company said.
“Last year, Novo Nordisk US production sites in Clayton and New Hampshire emitted 13,460 tons of CO2 from electricity use,” the firm said in its announcement. “With the new solar project, the company’s net CO2 emissions from electricity will go down to zero.”
The original Novo Nordisk plant in Johnston County opened in 1993.
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