Apple-Led JV Expedites Renewable Energy Developments

By Anca Gagiuc

Apple, Akamai, Etsy and Swiss Re have teamed up for the development of two new wind and solar energy farms in Illinois and Virginia. Led by Apple, the new facilities will generate 290 megawatts to the PJM electric grid serving the eastern U.S., including areas of Virginia, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland.

The partners will receive technical assistance from 3Degrees and will collectively purchase 125 megawatts from a wind farm near Chicago and 165 megawatts from a solar photovoltaic project outside Fredericksburg, Va. The solar project will be developed by sPower, an AES and AIMCo company, while the wind farm will be built by Geronimo Energy. Both are expected to come online over the next two years and are estimated to produce the equivalent energy to power 74,000 homes.

Paving the green way

Apple’s partners in this project previously had limited opportunity to access large renewable energy projects in the regions covered by the 13-state PJM wholesale electric market. Through the collaboration with Apple, these companies are set to access clean energy at competitive prices and agreement terms.

“At Apple, we’re proud to power all of our operations around the world with 100 percent renewable energy,” Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of environment, policy and social initiatives, said in prepared remarks. “In the process, we’ve charted a course for other companies and organizations to purchase renewable energy and transition their own operations to greener power. The collaboration announced today shows how companies of all sizes can address climate change by coming together.”