Dive Brief:

• Microsoft Corp. is making its first direct investment in renewable energy with a deal to buy the full 20-year output of a $200 million, 555-turbine wind project in Texas. Before this deal, Microsoft invested in renewable power by buying renewable energy credits.
• The so-called Keechi project being developed by RES Americas is about 70 miles northwest of Fort Worth.
• Microsoft would not say how much it is paying for the wind power, but Robert Bernard, the company's chief environmental strategist, said the deal is being paid for by an internal "carbon fee" that Microsoft assesses its units. The fee raised roughly $10 million in the first year of it being levied.

Dive Insight: 

The deal with RES Americans will provide from 5% to 10% of Microsoft's total electricity consumption. Microsoft operates a massive data center in San Antonio that helps it store data for more than 1 billion people and 20 million businesses. Rival Google claims to power more than 34% of its operations from renewable power.