After a yearlong investment spree of US$2 million for the complete retribution of its Mankato aluminium can manufacturing plant, Crown Beverage Packaging is now plotting to add a humungous solar array by 2024 complementing the company’s facility situated mid-way between Riverfront Drive and Third Avenue.

Crown Holdings, an internationally acknowledged producer of food and beverage packaging solutions, aims to suffice 75% of its electricity requirement using only renewable energy by the next ten years and completely aloof of fossil fuel by 2040.

The plant manager Corey Darula seemed quite optimistic about the addition of this solar array as he cited that the adjoining land to the facility had been a barren unused piece of land for a long period of time, but now if it acts as the perfect ground for solar arrangements, nothing can be more beneficial. This land located north of the Mankato plant at 174 Chestnut St. will be extremely useful for the entire community, not only Crown.

Darula spoke: “We feel it’s really important for this region to be part of the solution, so we identified a six-acre portion of our property that is ideal for a solar garden installation.”

The construction of the solar array can be wildly attributed to the rising demand for aluminium beverage cans for companies like Pepsi, Coca-Cola and Schell’s Beer. The company officials claim that by next year the plant will be capable of producing almost two-thirds more than the number of aluminium cans it supplies today.

Darula went on to explain: “We are currently in an exciting growth phase where we are starting up a new module which should increase our end-making capacity by 65%.”

Recorded estimations flash an investment of over US$2.1 million in 2022 for restoration works at Crown’s Mankato plant. The current upgrades have incorporated a break room and a small market compound for Crown’s 106 workers.

Crown is also planning to amplify its community involvement by lending sponsorship to the Northwoods League baseball games this summer.

Darula confirmed: “We are currently working with the Mankato MoonDogs to promote a ‘Race to Recycle’ event at each game this season. This is aimed at bringing awareness to the importance of recycling within our community while also reinforcing our presence and contributions to the area, as well as Crown’s larger impact.”

Gaining a national permit for mounting these solar panels will not be without consequences. The construction has to be controlled so that it does not interfere with the flight routes.