Solar, wind farms will power Google’s data centers

Before we start talking Google data centers this and Google that. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its list of the top organizations using the most renewable electricity in North America. The Green Power Partnership’s top 50 purchasers use more than 14 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually. All equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the electricity use of more than 1.2 million average American homes. Green power is generated from renewable resources. For example solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, and low-impact hydropower.

“By making the switch to renewable power, these forward thinking companies are reducing greenhouse gasses and other harmful air pollution so that Americans can breathe easier.” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest.

So Google is purchasing green power from NextEra Energy Resources, Renewable Choice Energy, and Puget Sound Energy. In addition, Google helped create the largest residential solar fund in the U.S.

It also has invested in several renewable energy projects. That’s including the world’s largest wind farm. In addition the Alta Wind Energy Center near Tehachapi, California. Finally the Ivanpah Power Tower solar project in California’s Mojave Desert.

Google has also signed two long-term contracts to purchase the output from over 200MW of wind generation in Iowa and Oklahoma. All at set prices over 20 years. The renewable energy from these NextEra Energy Resources wind farms. All will be applied to Google data centers in these regions.

Ingram Micro’s corporate headquarters in Santa Ana Calif., is purchasing more than 3 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually. That which is enough green power to meet 107 percent of the facility’s electricity use. The company is buying renewable energy certificates (RECs) from Renewable Choice Energy.

In addition, Ingram Micro Inc. is a Fortune 100 company. Also, the world’s largest technology distributor and supply-chain services provider. They offer sales, marketing and logistics services for the IT industry worldwide. The company is a global broad-based IT distributor. All serving more than 150 countries. Also on six continents with a comprehensive portfolio of IT products and services.

In Newsweek’s 2011 Green Rankings, Ingram Micro is listed at No. 33, leading the technology distribution industry with its efforts to lessen its impact on the environment.

EPA’s Green Power Partnership works with more than 1,300 partner organizations. All to voluntarily purchase green power to reduce the environmental impacts of conventional electricity use. Overall, EPA’s Green Power Partners are using nearly 20 billion kWh of green power annually. That’s equivalent to avoiding the CO2 emissions from the electricity use of more than 1.7 million average American homes.

Green power resources produce electricity. All with an environmental profile superior to conventional power technologies. More over producing no net greenhouse gas emissions. Purchases of green power also help accelerate the market. So the development of new renewable energy capacity nationwide.

Source: Environmental Protection Agency, Region 9

More information on the top lists:
http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists/index.htm

More information on EPA’s Green Power Partnership:
http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/