Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ: MSFT) purchased a large amount of electricity and renewable energy credits (RECs) from European clean energy company, EDP Renewables North America (Euronext Lisbon: EDPR</a>).
Announced on Thursday, EDP picked up three new solar projects in Illinois and Texas with a total of 400 MW. Microsoft has taken from these three.
The three new projects include the 140 MW Wolf Run Solar Project and the 110 MW Hickory Solar Project. Both are located in southern Illinois, and the 150 MW Cattlemen II Solar Project, located near Austin, Texas.
The two Illinois projects created 500 construction jobs, according to the companies. They also contributed USD$4.8 million to landowners. These landowners then lease a portion of their land to projects and local governments through tax payments.
The companies explained that these payments ensure critical services, schools, road maintenance, and other local initiatives are well-funded. The companies also noted the Cattlemen II project in Texas will contribute millions in taxes. Furthermore, this project created approximately 300 construction jobs.
Both companies also added that the operations of these three projects will continue to increase local spending in the project communities.
“The importance of ensuring benefits flowing from renewable energy development directly into communities has never been more important,” said Sandhya Ganapathy, CEO of EDP Renewables North America.
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Hickory will fund the Sharing the Power Foundation
For the Hickory project, EDPR NA and Microsoft used an Environmental Justice PPA, which Microsoft and Volt Energy Utility, LLC developed.
Volt Energy Utility is a minority-owned renewable energy developer focused on making clean energy investments in communities disproportionately impacted by pollution and vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
With the EJ PPA, Hickory will fund the Sharing the Power Foundation. The foundation is a non-profit advancing environmental justice and contributing to the clean energy economy.
The funding will support organizations and causes that ensure equal access to clean air, water, and renewable energy. It will also provide energy assistance programs and opportunities for workforce training in clean energy careers.
The companies said that the projects will also support Microsoft’s sustainability and carbon reduction goals.
In 2021, Microsoft also launched a “100/100/0 clean energy goal.” This goal targets 100 per cent of its electricity consumption matched by purchases from zero-carbon energy sources by 2030.
This goal builds on its prior commitment to use 100 per cent renewable energy in its buildings and datacenters globally by 2025. Microsoft has also committed to becoming carbon negative by 2030. It intends to cover 100 per cent of its electricity consumption in its buildings and datacenters globally with renewable energy by 2025.
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