Toyota Boshoku America Celebrates Completion of 5.7-Megawatt Solar Project with Onyx Renewables
Toyota Boshoku America (TBA), Onyx Renewables, and key project partners came together today for the ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the completion of a groundbreaking 5.7-megawatt solar project designed to power TBA's Lawrenceville manufacturing facility with clean, affordable energy.
This solar installation, which fulfills 85% of the facility's electricity needs, is a significant step forward in TBA’s commitment to sustainability and carbon reduction.
The event was attended by TBA's President Kenji Sugito, local chamber representatives, and officials from project partners including Sol Systems, Nelnet Renewable Energy, and Onyx Renewables. The partnership reflects TBA’s recognition of the growing urgency to address rising energy prices and reduce carbon emissions.
Innovative Collaboration Driving Sustainability
TBA, seeking to stabilize energy costs and meet sustainability goals, partnered with Sol Systems to develop the solar project. The solar farm was strategically located on 17 acres adjacent to TBA’s Lawrenceville plant, optimizing land use while maximizing energy production. Onyx Renewables later acquired the project, providing TBA with immediate energy savings through a power purchase agreement (PPA), all without any upfront capital investment.
Anna Toenjes, Associate Vice President of Impact & Business Development at Sol Systems, said, “This project is a testament to what's possible when manufacturers, clean energy developers, and local communities work together toward shared goals.”
She added,“From Day 1, Toyota Boshoku brought vision and dedication to the table, and we're proud to have developed a project that will deliver long-term economic and environmental benefits — from long-term energy savings to workforce development and pollinator-friendly land use."
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Achieving Milestones in Sustainability
The ground-mounted solar array, spanning 17 acres, is expected to generate over 9.5 million kilowatt-hours of electricity in its first year. This project represents TBA's largest onsite solar installation to date and a crucial milestone in its journey toward carbon neutrality.
Ryan Hunt, Vice President of TBA, also emphasized, "This project is a significant step toward our goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. We're proud to work with Onyx, Sol Systems, and Nelnet to bring clean, reliable energy to our Lawrenceville facility."
A Model for Future Clean Energy Projects
Onyx Renewables, a leader in clean energy infrastructure development, led the project’s final development and construction. Nelnet Renewable Energy, which specializes in commercial and small-scale utility solar, served as the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) partner.
Onyx Renewables will continue to manage the project as the owner and operator, ensuring it continues to deliver high-quality, affordable clean energy to TBA’s facility.
The project also focused on workforce development, with at least 15% of the labor allocated to qualified apprentices, and ensured prevailing wages were paid. Sol Systems committed to enhancing local biodiversity by planting a pollinator-friendly habitat around the solar array, in consultation with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
