Apple partnering with tech giants for big clean energy buy

Apple, eBay, Samsung, and Sprint have joined forces to purchase clean power from a new wind farm owned and developed by Apex Clean Energy.

The wind farm, named the White Mesa Wind project, will be located in Crocket County, Texas. When completed in 2021, it will be capable of supplying 500 megawatts of power to the surrounding area.

Founded in 2009, Apex Clean Energy is a wind-energy company based in Virginia with 13 wind energy projects in Oklahoma, Texas, and Illinois.

Apple will be the largest purchaser in the agreement. Between the four companies, the purchase totals 75 megawatts of clean energy— or enough to power roughly 20,000 homes. The agreement will enable those involved to access cost-effective renewable energy from Apex.

Californian energy liaison company 3degrees facilitated the agreement.

Lisa Jackson, Apple's Vice President of environment, policy, and social initiatives spoke of the agreement.

"We're proud to be powering all of Apple's operations around the world with 100 percent renewable energy and driving the private sector to support the clean energy transition. Businesses of all sizes and of varying energy needs can help bring new, renewable energy online. This collaborative agreement in Texas is a model we hope others will replicate."

Apple has been spearheading quite a few new green projects. In September, Apple brought three wind farms on the grid in China.

Apple has also helped to encourage other companies, as well as their component suppliers, to move to using renewable energy. The project, known as the China Clean Energy Fund, provides both funds and information to companies interested in utilizing green energy in their supply chain.

This is extremely important, as a majority of a consumer electronics company's carbon footprint is in manufacturing and shipping. For example, 70% of Apple's corporate carbon footprint lies in their supply chain.

Tim Cook mentioned that Apple is brainstorming new ways to encourage third-party product manufacturers, like those who make cases or accessories, to think about their energy use. In the future, it's possible that Apple may offer a special badge or certification for mindfully produced goods, in addition to culling what gets sold in official Apple Stores.

Having Samsung, Sprint, and eBay on board for the agreement could spur more changes across the industry. Consumers are beginning to expect a company to do more in terms of sustainability and environmental stewardship, and any company that eschews environmentally-friendly practices could be left behind.

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19 Comments

SpamSandwich 32917 comments · 19 Years

About 5 years ago

How many more millions of birds are these companies willing to kill and remove from our environment?

If these companies were genuinely concerned about “renewable” power sources, they’d back next-generation nuclear power (aka “molten salt reactors”, “pebble bed reactors”). Solar and wind power don’t even come close to the efficiency of nuclear.

toysandme 243 comments · 16 Years

SpamSandwich said:

How many more millions of birds are these companies willing to kill and remove from our environment?

Nowhere as many as cats kill.

toysandme said:

SpamSandwich said:

How many more millions of birds are these companies willing to kill and remove from our environment?

Nowhere as many as cats kill.

When a cat does it, it’s nature’s way. When a windmill farm does it, it’s an abbatoir.

JustSomeGuy1 330 comments · 6 Years

SpamSandwich said:

toysandme said:

SpamSandwich said:

How many more millions of birds are these companies willing to kill and remove from our environment?

Nowhere as many as cats kill.

When a cat does it, it’s nature’s way. When a windmill farm does it, it’s an abbatoir.

Are you an uneducated bird lover, or are you a tool of the carbon lobby?

Climate change will drive entire species to extinction (never mind what it'll do to us). The bird deaths due to windmills are unfortunate, but a much lesser price to pay. No person (or indeed any creature) can live entirely without footprints; unless you're willing to self-euthanize, you're going to have impacts on other entities, birds or others. Are you a vegetarian? Are you willing to attempt to legislate that everyone else become one? If not, your protests are a transparent deception.

All that said, I'm strongly in favor of developing next-gen nuclear. It's good to have options. But there is no possible way we're going to have any significant portion of our energy use served by new nuclear reactors in the next 10 years, even if we start construction right now. You want nuclear? Good, go for it, but in the meantime we need other options. And in any case, it is not a sensible investment for Apple or other companies. It's speculative and very long-term, whereas solar and wind can be put in place in a year, give or take.

mobird 758 comments · 20 Years

As I have mentioned previously, we have been driving between our homes in Colorado and Arkansas for the past decade and have observed the installation of massive wind farms across Kansas and Colorado. We make this drive 3-4 times a year and during all the different seasons. It is amazing how often the turbines sit idle while we are making these trips. The pumpjacks keep running 24/7 and have been doing so for decades...
And by the way, there is no way in hell I am making the drive in a electric car.
Just saying...