Local business goes green by using renewable energy

Posted on August 22, 2011

Rockford, Minn. (August 22, 2011) — One of Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association’s (WH) commercial customers, Walter G. Anderson (WGA), a folding carton manufacturer in Hamel, Minn., is making its production processes more environmentally friendly by purchasing 100 percent of its energy from renewable sources through WH.

At the request of one of their clients, WGA investigated using renewable energy in an effort to make their manufacturing processes “green.” WH, together with one of its power suppliers, Basin Electric Power Cooperative, acquired wind energy for WGA, which it began using in July. WGA is currently WH’s only commercial customer that purchases 100 percent of its energy from renewable sources.

“It’s always been our practice to invest in the needs of our customers so we can grow with them, and the wind power request fit with that strategy,” said WGA Vice President of Sales Darrel Johnson.

In addition to using renewable energy, WGA also uses paperboard to make its folding cartons, which are 100 percent recyclable. WGA uses additional sustainable practices throughout its operation processes.

Founded in 1950, WGA has grown to become the leading supplier of folding cartons in the upper Midwest. Its manufacturing facility in Hamel, Minn. is one of the most modern folding carton plants in the industry, utilizing the latest technology to efficiently create high quality products.

WH is a member-owned non-profit electric utility that provides electric power to Wright County and the western part of Hennepin County. The cooperative has been a corporate citizen in this area since 1937 and currently serves more than 46,000 electric accounts. The utility started its security division in 1989 that provides local home security solutions as well as monitors alarm systems for more than 50,000 customers in 32 states and three Canadian provinces.