first published week of: 04/21/2014
Apple Inc. is committed to the use of 100% renewable energy to power its iCloud data centers. The Oregonian reports that the Cupertino-based tech giant has taken over a small hydroelectric project to power its Prineville, Oregon facility. It will help the Oregon facility maintain its 100% clean energy rating. Apple’s website notes on its renewable energy page that the Prineville data center will source power from hydroelectric project, as well as wind and solar power.
The acquisition was revealed in a federal document. Initial proposals for the project suggest that the hydroelectric project will generate 3-5MW power. That amount of energy is sufficient to power 2000-3500 homes. But large data centers like the one Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) opened in Prineville consume a lot more power, sometimes as much as a small city. The Prineville site is estimated to consume about 30MW of electricity.
The 45-milelong hydroelectric project is located about 20 miles from Prineville. It’s near the Haystack Reservoir in Jefferson County. It’s still unclear how much Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) paid for the project. But the hydroelectric project’s previous owner EBD Hydro had secured $8.5 million in federal grants and loans to help finance it. Like Apple’s California data center, the Oregon facility already uses wind energy. The iPhone maker’s Maiden, North Carolina operation relies on solar energy. The company’s data center under construction in Nevada will utilize geothermal and solar energy. continued…