Darien, Conn.-based hair-care manufacturer Zotos International Inc. – a wholly owned subsidiary of Japanese cosmetics company Shiseido Co. Ltd. – has received approval to construct a $7 million, 3.3 MW on-site wind power project for its manufacturing plant in Geneva, N.Y. The project was unanimously approved by city officials.
Anthony Perdigao, vice president of plant operations at Zotos, credited the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for covering 30% of the project's costs. With this assistance, Zotos expects to see a return on investment in less than five years.
The Zotos project will consist of two 1,650 kW wind turbines that will generate approximately 7,500 MWh of renewable energy every year. As part of its project, Zotos will provide the city with a donation equivalent to 5% of the wind power generated on site.
The company is investing in wind power as part of a sustainability initiative aimed at powering its 670,000 square-foot plant with 100% renewable energy by the end of 2011. Construction is expected to start in mid-August, and wind turbines are expected to be fully operational by the end of the year.
SOURCE: Zotos International Inc.
