The $8 million project is scheduled to be completed later this year.
Juhl Wind acquired the development asset from Boulder, Colorado-based NexGen Energy Partners in 2011, and is expected to take ownership in the project under its Juhl Renewable Asset subsidiary.
The Honda Wind Project represents a growing niche within our renewable energy development services, which includes installing 'behind the meter' wind and solar facilities for large industrial electricity users and corporate clients," said Corey Juhl, Juhl Wind's vice president of Project Development. "Our goal is to continue to grow this sector of our business by providing quality development services to companies that are looking to utilize renewable energy at their planned or existing facilities."
Once the turbines begin operating, the Honda transmission plant will be the first major automotive manufacturing facility in the United States to obtain a substantial amount of its electricity directly from wind turbines located on its property.
The turbines, with blades approximately 160 feet long, will be installed on 260-foot towers on Honda Transmission property, which is suited for a maximum of two wind turbines.
An evaluation of the project shows that renewable energy from the two wind turbines will supply approximately 10 percent of the plant's electricity, while also reducing CO2 emissions. Studies commissioned by Honda Transmission indicate that wind-generated power is a cost-effective source of electricity for the plant, and that the project will not adversely impact local wildlife or the environment.
"This is just one of many ways that Honda is seeking to reduce our environmental footprint, and we appreciate the experience and knowledge that Juhl Wind is bringing to this unique wind-generation project," said Gary Hand, Honda Transmission vice president.
" In our own ways, both Honda and Juhl are committed to reducing CO2 emissions," he added.
Globally, Honda has established voluntary goals to reduce the environmental impact of its products and manufacturing operations by 2020. This includes a 30 percent reduction in CO2 emissions from Honda products, and significant CO2 reductions from the company's plants and other operations, compared with year 2000 levels.
To achieve these new environmental targets, Honda is accelerating its efforts to advance the environmental performance of its products and operations throughout its North American Region.
There are hundreds of manufacturing facilities similar in size to Honda's transmission plant across the country that are candidates for alternative-energy resources such as wind and solar, Juhl said.
Juhl Wind's headquarters in Woodstock, Minnesota in the US was included on President Barack Obama's pre-election "Energy Tour" in October 2012.
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