Smithfield Foods, Inc., Smithfield, Va., signed an agreement with United Wind, a Brooklyn, N.Y.-based distributed wind energy developer, to power dozens of Smithfield hog farms in Colorado with on-site wind energy. The partnership will provide Smithfield with long-term renewable energy for its agricultural operations and contribute to its goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 25% by 2025.

"At Smithfield, we are committed to seeking out innovative ways to reduce our environmental impact, all while creating value for our company and stakeholders," says Stewart Leeth, vice president of regulatory affairs and chief sustainability officer for Smithfield Foods. "This partnership with United Wind is part of our efforts to produce the food needed to feed a growing world population, while minimizing our use of natural resources."

"We're excited to bring competitive distributed wind energy options to food and agricultural companies like Smithfield in wind-rich environments throughout rural areas of the country," says Russell Tencer, chief executive officer of United Wind. "The economics and land-use attributes of distributed wind just make more sense in the areas we serve."