Centennial Inaugurates Solar Project at the Holcim Ready Mix Concrete Plant in Washington, DC

September 14, 2023

Earlier this month, Holcim - a Fortune 500 company and global leader in cement and aggregate production - inaugurated a solar project at its Fort Totten ready mix concrete plant in northeast Washington, DC.   

The project was developed by Centennial, a solar company founded in 2014 with projects in 7 countries including 6 states in the U.S.

The solar project, part of Centennial's efforts to work with customers to decarbonize commercial and industrial facilities, is designed to produce enough electricity to power most of the plant’s energy needs.  

Over the next 20 years, the solar project will reduce CO2 emissions at the plant by up to 30% per year.

Halo, a solar engineering contractor, built the project.  It will be owned and operated by Madison Energy Investments (MEI).

Holcim US Reduces Power Grid Demand and Fossil Fuel Reliance with Solar Arrays at Washington, D.C., Concrete Plant

Washington, D.C., Sept. 14, 2023 – After a scorching summer that taxed power grids nationwide, Holcim US today announced the installation of new solar arrays at its Fort Totten ready mix concrete plant in Washington, D.C., helping to both offset the industrial load in a major metropolitan area and replace the fossil fuel-generated electricity on site with renewable energy.

“This summer showed why everyone, including a concrete supplier in the middle of a large city, is responsible for reducing energy consumption,” said Cedric Barthelemy, senior vice president and general manager of Holcim US’ Mid-Atlantic Region. “With our focus on Holcim US’ renewable energy goals, we’re leading the way in becoming the first concrete company in D.C. to generate and use solar energy on site.”

In support of Holcim’s pledge to power all of its US operations with 100 percent renewable energy by 2030, the Fort Totten installation, which is made of both silo rooftop solar modules and a separate carport with solar modules, will produce between 1,300 and 1,500 MWh per year of renewable green energy.

Centennial Energy developed the project, which was built by Halo, a solar engineering contractor. It will be owned and operated by Madison Energy Investments (MEI).

This project highlights Holcim’s commitment to move toward a blend of green solutions across business units and markets, from low-carbon cement and concrete to electrifying vehicle fleets to innovative carbon capture research. It follows a number of other solar and renewable energy projects at Holcim facilities across the US, including Colorado, New York, Texas and Michigan, contributing to the expected result of 40% wind and solar renewable energy across operations by the end of the year.

About Holcim US

Holcim is a global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions. Driven by its purpose to build progress for people and the planet, its 60,000 employees are on a mission to decarbonize building, while improving living standards for all. The company empowers its customers across all regions to build better with less, with its broad range of low- carbon and circular solutions, from ECOPact to ECOPlanet. With its innovative systems, from Elevate’s roofing to PRB’s insulation, Holcim makes buildings more sustainable in use, driving energy efficiency and green retrofitting. With sustainability at the core of its strategy, Holcim is becoming a net-zero company with 1.5°C targets validated by SBTi.

In the United States, Holcim US includes nearly 350 sites in 43 states and employs 7,000 people. Our customers rely on us to help them design and build better communities with innovative solutions that deliver structural integrity and eco- efficiency. To learn more, visit holcim.us.