The electric power used by Volvo’s New River Valley (NRV) assembly plant in Dublin, Virginia, is now carbon neutral. As of November, 100 percent of the plant’s electricity is generated by methane gas produced at 13 landfills in the region.
The fossil fuels previously used to generate the NRV plant’s electricity in 2013 produced 40,408 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Volvo’s electricity provider now uses landfill gas to produce power for the plant that otherwise would have required fossil fuels to produce.
“We are proud that Volvo’s commitment to sustainability goes beyond producing fuel-efficient trucks,” said Göran Nyberg, president, Volvo Trucks North American Sales & Marketing. “Our customers can be assured that we strive for energy efficiency every step of the way.”
“I want to congratulate the entire NRV team for their contributions to our core values of quality, safety and environmental care and their work toward creating a better future for our shareholders, our customers and our people,” said Franky Marchand, vice president and general manager of the NRV plant. “Today, our electricity is produced without any additional CO2, contributing to an improved environment for our community. The trash of the past is the methane gas that fuels our plant today.”
Carbon neutral electricity is just the latest milestone in the NRV plant’s commitment to sustainability. Plant management and employees have worked together to identify and implement various initiatives to reduce the plant’s CO2 footprint through energy efficiency. Some notable results of those efforts include capturing solar heat absorbed on an exterior wall of the plant to provide heating and removing the lighting from vending machines throughout the plant. These initiatives resulted in a reduction of energy intensity by 30 percent.
The NRV plants energy conservation efforts have been recognized with certification under both ISO 50001 standards and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Superior Energy Platinum (SEP) program – the top international and U.S. certifications for driving continuous improvements in energy efficiency.
Volvo Trucks North America’s operations and products are guided by the company’s three core values: Quality, Safety and Environmental Care. The Volvo VNM, VNL, VNX, VHD and VAH trucks are assembled in the United States at the New River Valley Plant in Dublin, Virginia, while Volvo engines for North America are assembled in Hagerstown, Maryland. The New River Valley Plant is certified to ISO50001 energy standards. Both plants are certified to ISO14001 environmental and ISO9001 quality standards.
The Volvo Group is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of trucks, buses, construction equipment and marine and industrial engines. The Group also provides complete solutions for financing and service. The Volvo Group, which employs about 110,000 people, has production facilities in 18 countries and sells its products in more than 190 markets. In 2013, the Volvo Group’s sales amounted to $41.5 billion. The Volvo Group is a publicly-held company headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden. Volvo shares are listed on OMX Nordic Exchange Stockholm and are traded OTC in the U.S.