A new manufacturing plant for Owens Corning uses 100 percent renewable energy. The Gresham, Ore., plant has a solar photovoltaic system installed by Sun Edison, reports Greenjobs.
The facility also was built to LEED Gold standards for new construction, according to a press release. It is one of only 203 industrial facilities in the U.S. to be certified to the gold standard.
The factory, which will produce Foamular insulation, has been a long time coming, with construction starting in 2004. In 2007, the plant came under criticism because of gases associated with producing the insulation, but Owens Corning was able to appease regulators by devising a new formula designed to reduce ozone-causing emissions by 70 percent, reports OregonLive.
By building the plant near Pacific Northwest markets, Owens Corning said it expects to help further reduce emissions by virtue of the insulation have travel a lower distance because of its proximity to customers.
