In what is described as the single largest corporate purchase of solar energy ever in the United States, Microsoft agreed to purchase 315 MW of energy from Pleinmont I and II, two new solar projects in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Microsoft is aiming to power 60% of its operations with renewable energy by 2020.
"Today, we're signing the largest corporate solar agreement in the United States, a 315 megawatt project in Virginia that will move us ahead of schedule in creating a cleaner cloud," said Brad Smith, president, Microsoft. "This project means more than just gigawatts, because our commitment is broader than transforming our own operations; it's also about helping others access more renewable energy."
The project is owned and will be operated by sPower, a leading independent renewable energy power producer based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Once operational, Pleinmont I and II will consist of more than 750,000 solar panels spread across more than 2,000 acres, and produce approximately 715,000 MWh a year. It is the largest solar project in Virginia and the fifth largest solar project in the country.
