Dive Brief:

• Apple acquired the 45 Mile Hydroelectric Plant developed by EBD Hydro near its Prineville, Oregon, data center. It is another step for Apple toward its goal of powering all its data centers and corporate facilities with 100% renewable energy.
• The hydro plant, transferred to Apple in December, has an estimated 3 megawatt to 5 megawatt output. The Prine data center requires an estimated 30 megawatts to 40 megawatts at full capacity. Oregon’s Direct Access provision allows the direct wholesale purchase of renewable energy. With Direct Access, Apple can use its ample wind capacity and the firming capability of the hydro facility to opt out of reliance on the grid mix.
• The hydro project is at a concrete drop structure of the Oregon North Unit Irrigation District’s main irrigation canal. The facility will divert water out of its channel for approximately half a mile, run it through the hydroelectric turbine, and discharge it back into the channel.

Dive Insight:

Apple is committed to 100% renewables at data centers in Maiden, North Carolina, and Newark, California, as well as the Prineville facility. It is said to have plans for new data centers in Reno, Nevada, in Hong Kong, and possibly in Europe.

Apple increased the use of renewables to power its corporate facilities [Cupertino, California, Austin, Texas, Elk Grove, California, Cork, Ireland, Munich, Germany, and Australia] by 114% between 2010 and 2012.

CEO Tim Cook recently told investors skeptical about climate change to sell their Apple stock if they object to Apple’s policies.