Chevron REG breaks ground on solar array at Mason City, Iowa, biodiesel plant

Business and community leaders and project partners joined Chevron REG in Mason City for a groundbreaking ceremony celebrating the installation of a solar array. From left, Edgar Castro, John Sens and Evan Hulbert, Chevron; Colleen Frein, Mason City Chamber of Commerce; Mayor Bill Schickel; and Matt Herman, Iowa Soybean Association. (Photo: Chevron REG)

Chevron Renewable Energy Group announced July 9 that it is commissioning an enhancement at its Mason City, Iowa, biodiesel production facility that will include the installation of a solar array.

The project kicked off with a groundbreaking event at the site that included local leaders and project partners.

The planned solar array will be located on existing Chevron property and allow the Mason City facility to have access to a long-term supply of reliable, lower-carbon electricity.

Panels will be installed this summer with work expected to conclude by the end of 2024.

Project partners include Faith Technologies Inc. and Zero6 Energy Inc. 

“The Mason City biorefinery solar-array project exemplifies Chevron’s focus on innovation and its vision to lower the carbon intensity of our operations,” said Edgar Castro, Chevron REG’s general manager of biodiesel operations and maintenance.

“This is the latest innovative initiative that will provide lower-carbon renewable energy for the Mason City biorefinery and reduce its greenhouse-gas emissions intensity,” Castro added.

The 10-acre solar array will produce electricity to meet up to 43 percent of the biorefinery’s annual power-consumption needs.

It is anticipated to reduce thousands of metric tons of carbon emissions over the lifetime of the project.

Chevron has committed to making $8 billion in lower-carbon investments and $2 billion in carbon-reduction projects by 2028.