Kendall-Jackson Goes Green With Renewable Energy Commitment

Kendall-Jackson and parent wine company Jackson Family Wines, based in Santa Rosa, California, have joined the alternative energy revolution by joining Green-e Marketplace with a purchase of 36,000 megawatt-hours of Green-e Energy Certified renewable energy certificates from NativeEnergy. The purchase covers 100 percent of the total annual electricity needs for Kendall-Jackson's U.S.-based operations.

The participation in the Green-e Marketplace means Kendall-Jackson can now display the Green-e logo to inform its customers of its commitment to renewable energy. Green-e Energy is the leading renewable energy certification program in the country and provides independent, third-party certification to ensure renewable energy products meet strict environmental and consumer protection standards.

"Kendall-Jackson has a longstanding focus on environmental responsibility, and awareness of resource use and conservation runs deep in the organization," said Orrin Cook, manager of Green-e Marketplace. "With this certification, we look forward to being able to help them communicate their commitment to clean energy to their customers, employees, and industry." The company was one of 18 organizations to receive the 2011 EPA Green Power Leadership Award for energy conservation, renewable energy use and leadership.

Besides the Green-e Marketplace renewable energy certificates, Kendall-Jackson's bottling operation uses one of the largest rooftop solar co-generation systems in the U.S. But the company's sustainability actions go beyond renewable energy. These include membership of the Sustainability in Practice (SIP) and the Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing programs through the Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance. The company has also introduced water-conservation measures and solid waste reduction and management.

"We take a three-step approach to move towards energy independence," said Robert Boller, Vice President of Sustainability at Jackson Family Wines. "First we changed our wasteful habits to reduce electricity use. Secondly we retrofitted our equipment to be more efficient. Lastly, we've invested in renewable energy, both off-site and on-site with solar co-generation."

Renewable energy is lighter on the environment, produces less waste and carbon emissions. Companies can help boost this market with programs like the one supported by Kendall-Jackson and help increase the current share of renewable power generation in the U.S., which currently stands at just over 10 percent of the total. According to the International Energy Agency, in 2009 renewable energy supplied 13.1% of the world's primary energy supply.

Image credit: Green-e