Sonoco Products Company and ENGIE North America announced that delivery of the Virtual Power Purchase Agreement for production from ENGIE's Big Sampson Wind Project, in Crockett County, Texas has commenced. Under the VPPA, Sonoco and ENGIE contracted an estimated 140 megawatts of electricity per year, representing approximately 83% of Sonoco's U.S. electricity consumption in 2025 and approximately 52% of the expected output capacity of Big Sampson, for a term of 15 years commencing upon Big Sampson's entry into commercial operation. The VPPA represents another step in Sonoco's integrated approach to corporate sustainability.
Aligned with their SBTi-validated reduction goal, the Company aims to reduce global Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 25% by 2030 from a 2020 baseline through various corporate initiatives, including improved packaging design, installing energy-efficient equipment and procuring renewable energy sources. The VPPA is an example of these efforts, with renewable energy credits acquired under the VPPA expected to help reduce Sonoco's baseline carbon emissions by approximately 19%. Big Sampson is a project of ENGIE, a global leader in the net zero energy transition.
The project, completed in late 2025, will be an addition to ENGIE North America's more than seven gigawatts of renewable energy production in operation or under construction across the United States and Canada. The Big Sampson Wind Project consists of 60 wind turbines, each expected to have a generating capacity of 4.5 megawatts. The project employed roughly 400 skilled construction professionals during the building phase, and about 10 to 15 full-time professionals will support operations on an on-going basis.
In addition to jobs, Big Sampson is expected to provide long-term tax revenues for both Crockett County and local school districts of more than $60 million over the 15-year life of the project.
