Pearson, a learning company, announced plans to install a 95-koliwatt wind turbine at its Print Services location in Owatonna, Minn., which consumes four million kilowatt hours of power annually.

According to Pearson sources, the facility operates 24 hours a day, so that Pearson can use 100 percent of the wind-generated power. It is expected that the turbine will offset approximately 119 metric tons of CO2 annually, or 2,380 metric tons which is equal to using about 5,540 barrels of oil considering the turbine’s twenty-year life.

The Owatonna operation is part of Pearson’s Assessment & Information Group, which provides educational and commercial printed assessment products and related services.

This renewable energy project comes after the installation of solar panels on the roof of Pearson’s data center in Old Tappan, NJ last year. The solar energy sources were adopted in order to offset about 4000 tons of CO2 over the 25-year life of the panels which is equivalent to planting more than 100,000 trees.

Rick Lent, quality initiatives manager for Pearson, said in a release, “We at Pearson are passionate about environmental issues, and our wind turbine installation is the latest example of our commitment to serving as good corporate citizens.”

“Of all North American Pearson sites, Owatonna is the best candidate for this project due to the volume of wind at our location and the fact that Pearson owns the facility. We look forward to helping to contribute to Pearson's overall climate neutral status,” Lent added.

Pearson has launched many “Green” initiatives including the transformation of its corporate fleet to include more fuel-efficient vehicles, expanding the use of online training and meeting tools and upgrading its high-definition videoconferencing technology in eleven of its ‘high-traffic’ North American locations.

It is expected that the benefits which arise from the videoconferencing initiative will lead to reduction in carbon emissions and travel costs from less air, rail, and road travel. This reduces meeting expenses significantly besides improving employee efficiency and work-life balance.

Pearson in its capacity as a learning company provides innovative print and digital education materials for pre-K through college. It also provides student information systems and learning management systems, teacher professional development, career certification programs, and testing and assessment products.