Cargill Expands US Renewable Electricity Portfolio With 172 MW Solar and Wind

Cargill is expanding its renewable electricity portfolio in the United States through two projects in Oklahoma and South Dakota with a combined capacity of 172 MW. The company has signed a virtual power purchase agreement for 87 MW from the Sweetland Wind project in South Dakota and previously contracted the full output of the 85 MW Choctaw Fields Solar project in Oklahoma. Together, the projects are expected to support approximately 3.3 million metric tons of CO2e emissions reductions over their contract terms.

 

The Sweetland Wind agreement runs for 12.6 years and is expected to generate around 392,000 MWh of renewable electricity annually. Cargill estimates the project will support emissions reductions of approximately 162,000 metric tons of CO2e per year from its operations. The Choctaw Fields Solar project began commercial operations in August 2026 and is expected to support reductions of around 86,000 metric tons of CO2e annually, or approximately 1.3 million metric tons over the life of its agreement.

 

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Both projects are connected to the Southwest Power Pool, which covers several US states where Cargill operates large food production and processing facilities. The company says locating renewable electricity contracts in the same regional grid as these operations helps connect its energy sourcing more closely with facilities producing products including beef, sweeteners and feed ingredients. Cargill also argues that reducing emissions associated with its own electricity use can help lower emissions linked to products purchased by customers across its supply chains.

 

Virtual power purchase agreements do not mean Cargill directly consumes the electricity generated by the wind and solar projects. Instead, the renewable power enters the regional grid while Cargill receives the associated environmental attributes. The company uses VPPAs alongside other energy measures as part of its effort to reduce absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 25% by 2035 from a 2020 baseline. Its wider portfolio now includes six VPPAs in North America and more than 100 renewable energy projects across 30 countries.

 

“Our customers are looking for ways to reduce emissions from the products they source from us, and we’re partnering closely with them to support their goals,” said Christina Yagjian, Senior Director of Global Renewable Energy at Cargill. She said the company is focusing renewable electricity procurement in regions where it operates while continuing to look for opportunities that support both emissions reductions and reliable energy supply.