McCain Foods has announced its largest investment ever in expanding a potato processing plant in Coaldale, Alberta.

McCain will double the size of the plant at a cost of 600 million dollars.

The plant employs 225 people and will create 260 new jobs.

McCain Foods says the company will work toward a goal of cutting its greenhouse gas emissions in half by the end of the decade.

The new facility in Alberta will include wind turbines and solar panels, providing 100 percent renewable electricity to the Coaldale site.

As well, renewable biogas generated at the wastewater treatment facility will be moved to steam boilers to offset natural gas demands.

Construction is set to start later this year.

McCain has operated its Coaldale processing facility since the year 2000, employing 225 people and working with potato farmers across Southern Alberta.

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