© 2024 Innovation Trail

Cosmetics company breaks ground on wind project

gold shovels
Zack Seward
/
WXXI
Gold shovels are better than regular shovels. Zotos used these to break ground on its new turbines today.

Another day, another wind record. Yesterday it was largest offshore wind farm. Today: largest wind project of any manufacturing company in the U.S.

Two turbines versus 100, but, hey, it's still a superlative.

Zotos International broke ground on the project today at their massive Geneva, N.Y. manufacturing plant. Zotos is a cosmetics company that makes hair-care and styling products.

Company officials say the two 30-story-tall wind turbines will be up and running by the end of the year. They'll produce about 70 percent of the plant's electricity needs. By the end of 2011 the company is trying to power the entire plant with renewable energy sources.

"Well, the way we look at it we're a beauty company," says Anthony Perdigao, vice president of plant operations at Zotos. "Being a beauty company, part of that is doing beautiful things. And respecting our environment is probably one of the most beautiful things that any company can do." 

Who knew hair goop could be so green?

The company makes product under the Zotos, JOICO, ISO and Senscience brand names. The Geneva plant employs more than 700 workers.

Thirty percent of the $7 million project is being covered by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

WXXI/Finger Lakes reporter for the Innovation Trail.
Related Content