Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) 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.
Apple’s Prineville data center would consume a lot more 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.
Apple reportedly doubled the size of its Oregon facility
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) started building its Prineville, Oregon facility in October 2012. According to Apple Insider, land preparation and construction are estimated to have cost the company about $68 million. Including server hardware, labor costs and construction costs, the project cost may exceed $1 billion. In September 2013, the company decided to double the size of its Oregon facility by acquiring more land at a nearby location.
Greenpeace’s recent energy report applauds Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s green energy commitments. During Apple’s previous earnings conference call, Tim Cook asked investors who oppose the company’s green initiatives to get out of the stock.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) shares slipped 0.27% to $518.31 in pre-market trading Monday.
