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Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced to support construction and operation of an 80MW solar farm in Accomack County, Virginia along with Community Energy, Inc. The solar farm is called “Amazon Solar Farm US East” and is expected to generate solar power for both current and future AWS Cloud datacenters.
AWS shared its long-term commitment to achieve 100% renewable energy usage for the global AWS infrastructure footprint. By this April, approximately 25% of its global power consumption comes from renewable sources. AWS expects at least 40% by the end of 2016.
The electricity generated by the Amazon Solar Farm US East will transmitted through the local grid and be sold under a PPA, which is similar with the one for Amazon Wind Farm (Fowler Ridge) in Indiana.
“Amazon Solar Farm US East – the second PPA that will serve both existing and planned AWS datacenters in the central and eastern US – has the added benefit of working to increase the availability of renewable energy in the Commonwealth of Virginia,” said Jerry Hunter, Vice President of Infrastructure at Amazon Web Services.
Community Energy is a pioneer in developing renewable energy with a long history in solar and wind energy. Community’s CEO, Brent Alderfer, believes the project helps accelerate the commercialization and deployment of solar PV technologies at scale in Virginia.
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