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Graphic Packaging Advances Renewable Energy with NextEra Energy

Graphic Packaging Holding Company, a prominent name in sustainable consumer packaging, is making strides in renewable energy with its latest agreement with NextEra Energy Resources. This partnership entails the development of a 250-megawatt solar plant located in West Texas, aimed at bolstering the company's commitment to sourcing renewable energy and curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

This groundbreaking deal represents Graphic Packaging's commitment to a greener future and follows on the heels of previous successful renewable energy initiatives in Spain. There, Graphic Packaging supported a power purchase agreement that enables three solar plants to meet 70% of its energy requirements across Europe. The company's ambitious sustainability program, dubbed Better, Every Day, is a robust initiative designed to significantly lessen GHG emissions and achieve net-zero emissions by the year 2050.

The West Texas project, known as the Selenite Springs Energy Center, is projected to commence commercial operations by the end of 2027. Under this agreement, Graphic Packaging will exclusively purchase the renewable energy attributes generated by this facility, which is expected to account for roughly 43% of the company's electricity usage in both the U.S. and Canada by 2025.

Notably, this marks Graphic Packaging's largest virtual power purchase agreement yet. The project strategically aligns with the company's science-based goal of reducing global Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 50.4% by 2032. Once completed, this solar energy center will contribute to increasing the proportion of renewable electricity that the company acquires globally to approximately 49%, thereby potentially achieving a 20% reduction in GHG emissions based on 2021 levels.

Michelle Fitzpatrick, the Chief Sustainability Officer of Graphic Packaging, highlighted the benefits of this partnership, stating, "Our collaboration with NextEra Energy Resources will strengthen our path toward attaining net zero greenhouse gas emissions and establishing a sustainable future. By securing renewable electricity for almost half of our global energy needs, we are better equipped to assist our customers—leaders in the consumer goods sector—in their sustainability efforts."

The establishment of the Selenite Springs Energy Center will not only infuse new, domestically generated energy into the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid but also cater to the growing electricity demands across Texas. This initiative supports grid reliability while simultaneously enhancing cost efficiency for consumers and businesses alike.

Mike DeBock, from NextEra Energy Resources, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, stating, "We are honored to partner with Graphic Packaging to assist in realizing their energy objectives while facilitating the development of new energy infrastructure in Texas."

About Graphic Packaging Holding Company

Graphic Packaging specializes in creating consumer packaging from renewable or recycled materials. As a leader in the industry, the company is dedicated to lessening the environmental impacts of consumer packaging. With an extensive global network of design and manufacturing facilities, Graphic Packaging serves many of the world's best-known brands in sectors such as food, beverage, and household products. To learn more about their commitment to sustainability, visit Graphic Packaging's website.