Amazon becomes largest corporate buyer of renewable energy in the U.S.

Amazon continues investment in renewable energy projects

 

Amazon has become the largest corporate buyer of renewable energy in the U.S. and the world with the addition of 14 new renewable energy projects in Arkansas and other states as well as Finland and Spain.

The company said the projects will advance its ambitious goal to power 100% of its activities with renewable power by 2025, which is 5 years ahead of the original target of 2030.

The agreements for renewable power follow one in April where Southern Power acquired the 118-megawatt Glass Sands Wind Facility in southern Oklahoma and agreed to supply power to Amazon.

The project, located in Murray County is expected to utilize 28 wind turbines manufactured by Vestas. Construction, executed by Mortensen, is underway, and the project is expected to achieve commercial operation in the fourth quarter of this year.

Once operational, the electricity and associated renewable energy credits generated by the facility will be sold under a power purchase agreement with Amazon.

Glass Sands Wind Project

 

“We’re driving hard to fulfill The Climate Pledge—our commitment to reach net-zero carbon by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement,” said Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and CEO.

Amazon will now have a total of 232 renewable energy projects globally, including 85 utility-scale wind and solar projects and 147 solar rooftops on facilities and stores worldwide. The 14 new wind and solar projects in the U.S., Canada, Finland, and Spain include:

The 11 U.S.-based projects announced Wednesday include Amazon’s first solar projects in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania, and additional projects in Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. In total, Amazon has enabled more than 6 GW of renewable energy in the U.S. through 54 projects.

Source: Business Wire