EDP Renewables Noord-America has announced that it has yielded three new solar projects on utility scale of a total of 400 MW. Microsoft has agreed to buy 389 MW of electricity and renewable energy credits (RECS) of the projects through long-term virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs). The delivery of these projects brings the total operational portfolio to five projects between the two companies in the United States.
In Zuid-Oillinois, after the 140-MW Wolf Run Solar Project in the vicinity of Jacksonville and the 110 MW Hickory Solar Project near Jerseyville in November last year. The 150 MW Cattlemen II Solar Project near Austin, Texas, came online in December.
EDPR after developed Hickory and Microsoft agreed to buy electricity and RECs. Hickory uses a PPA from the Environment Justice developed by Microsoft and Volt Energy Utility, a renewable energy developer owned by minorities aimed at making investments in the field of clean energy in rural and urban communities that disproportionate are affected by pollution and vulnerable to the impact of climate change. With the EJ PPA, Hickory will contribute to financing to enable the Power Foundation to offer financial assistance to organizations and causes that ensure equal access to clean air, water and renewable energy, as well as availability of energy utilizers; And opportunities to follow employee training in clean energy career.
Wolf Run and Hickory have contributed $ 4.8 million to landowners, who are leasing part of their country to the projects. The two Illinois projects created 500 building tracks and 5 permanent jobs.
Cattlemen II in Texas will also contribute millions of taxes, for the benefit of the local school district and the local government. The project has created around 300 building tracks and will support various permanent jobs in the area.
The activities of these three projects will continue to increase local editions, often seen by service providers, restaurants, hotels and other retailers near the project communities, with more than $ 10.4 million spent so far during construction.
“The importance of guaranteeing benefits that streams of renewable energy directly into communities has never been so important,” said Sandhya Ganapathy, CEO, EDP Renewables North -America. “Through these three extra projects, we indeed keep our promise and the promise of the industry-be-in to the growing energy demand of the country and invest in that process in the long-term economic growth of our communities.”
News item from EDP Renewables Noord -Amerika