Wedoany.com Report-Nov. 14, Rio Tinto said on Friday that its Kennecott operation in Utah, United States, has signed a 15-year virtual power purchase agreement with TerraGen to obtain renewable electricity from a newly developed wind project in Texas. According to the announcement, the company will procure 78.5 megawatts (MW) of power from TerraGen’s 238.5 MW Monte Cristo I Windpower project, which began commercial operations this week. The agreement reflects ongoing efforts to expand renewable energy use within the company’s operations.

A view shows the Rio Tinto logo in Perth, Australia, April 19, 2025.

The development follows recent updates to the U.S. critical minerals list, which now includes copper, and comes as Washington and Canberra advance cooperation through a trade arrangement aimed at strengthening collaboration on critical minerals and clean energy supply chains. Within the United States, Rio Tinto’s Kennecott smelter is one of two remaining copper smelters in operation and is considered important for supporting domestic copper supply. Copper is widely used in electricity networks, electric vehicles, and renewable power systems.

Rio Tinto reiterated its emission-reduction goals, noting that it aims to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2030 and target net-zero emissions by 2050. The company said that approximately 78% of its global electricity consumption currently comes from renewable sources. It also plans to raise this proportion to about 90% by the end of the decade as part of its long-term energy transition strategy.

The new renewable power procurement supports broader decarbonization steps at Kennecott. The site installed a 5 MW solar plant in 2023 and is close to completing a second solar facility with a capacity of 25 MW. These additions contribute to the operation’s goal of increasing clean energy usage and improving long-term sustainability.

Rio Tinto emphasized that the agreement with TerraGen aligns with its commitment to expand renewable power adoption across its assets. By securing additional wind-generated electricity from the Monte Cristo I project, the company aims to further integrate clean energy into its operations while maintaining stable output at Kennecott.