Bendix announced the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) chose its solar project to receive the 2022 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence in the category of Energy Efficiency/Renewable Resources. The 1.168-megawatt solar installation is at the Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC (Bendix) manufacturing operation in Huntington, Indiana.

Bendix accepted the award on Sept. 21 at a ceremony in Indianapolis, Indiana. Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Energy named the Bendix solar effort a 2022 Better Project Award winner in the department’s Better Plants program, the company says. 

The annual Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence administered by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management are Indiana’s most prestigious environmental recognition awards. They are reserved for the most innovative, sustainable, and exemplary programs or projects that positively impact the state’s environment and demonstrate measurable environmental, economic, and social benefits. The selection process is highly competitive, and only one award in each of the seven categories is chosen.

“We’re pleased that our efforts in Huntington have earned the respected distinction of a Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence,” said Maria Gutierrez, Bendix director of corporate responsibility and sustainability. “Our goal when we came on-line in August 2021 was to reduce Bendix’s carbon footprint while also saving costs. With the installation’s help, we’re succeeding, as it’s meeting about 30% of the energy needs at the massive Plant 1 manufacturing facility on the campus. Beyond that, we forecast it will decrease the carbon footprint of the Huntington operation by 19% and Bendix’s carbon footprint across North America by 3%. To be recognized by the home state of our operation is especially meaningful.”

The solar array is Bendix’s first, and it produces electricity through 2,612 450-watt panels,” said Bill Schubert, Bendix corporate manager, environmental and sustainability. “During normal hours of operation at the plant, the facility will use all the energy generated. But during nonworking hours like weekends and holidays, Bendix will be able to send excess energy back to the electrical grid. This process will increase the utility’s green energy and reduce Bendix’s utility costs.”

Bendix says its next sustainability milestone is nearing: the installation of two solar arrays at the Acuña, Mexico, manufacturing campus – each generating 1,000 megawatt-hours of electricity annually and reducing the campus CO₂ emissions from the 2018 baseline by 13%. This project is on track to be on-line in 2023, the company says.