Social media gaint Facebook has entered into a power purchase agreement (PPA) with EDP Renewables (EDPR), to power its operations from Headwaters II Wind Farm in Randolph County, Indiana.
Image: EDPR to sell wind power to Facebook. Photo: Courtesy of Matt Artz/Unsplash
As per the PPA, Facebook will be supplied with 139MW from the 200MW wind farm. The wind farm will generate enough clean electricity to be supplied to more than 52,000 US homes each year.
The wind farm will also provide economic benefits including jobs throughout the construction phase, and operation and landowner payments. The Headwaters II Wind Farm is expected to begin operations in 2020.
EDP Renewables CEO Joao Manso Neto said: “EDP Renewables is pleased to work with Facebook to help in meeting their sustainability goal of procuring renewable energy to support their operations.
“Corporate purchasers, like Facebook, who purchase fixed, competitively-priced renewable energy have greatly contributed to the continued growth and success of the wind industry.”
It is claimed that this PPA takes Facebook a step closer to its sustainability goal of supplying all of its operations with clean and renewable energy.
Facebook global energy director Bobby Hollis said: “Facebook is committed to finding new renewable energy projects on the same power grid for all of our facilities.
“We’re excited to partner with EDP Renewables to help us meet our sustainability goals in the region.”
As per EDPR, the Headwaters I Wind Farm, which is also located in Randolph County, has paid nearly $2.6m in cumulative payments to local governments last year.
Presently, EDP Renewables operates 801 MW of wind energy projects in Indiana. By the end of 2018, its operational capacity is expected to surpass 1GW mark following the completion of the 200 MW Meadow Lake VI Wind Farm in Benton County.
The firm said: “EDPR will continue to add to its renewable energy portfolio in the state in the coming years with the addition of the Headwaters II Wind Farm and the 200 MW Riverstart Solar Park, both in Randolph County and expected to be operational in 2020 and 2022 respectively.”