Apple and NV Energy Are Slated to Build Another Massive 200-Megawatt Solar Plant

Apple, in partnership with NV Energy, announced a new plan to build an additional 200 megawatts of solar energy for Cupertino’s data center in Reno.

In addition to support the growing needs of the Reno-based Apple data center, at least 5 megawatts will be reserved for a future NV Energy subscription program for both residential and commercial customers, the company said in a press release.

Those extra megawatts will, presumably, involve Apple’s Energy subsidiary, which was formed last May to sell excess energy to wholesale markets.

“Investing in innovation clean energy sources is vital to Apple’s commitment to reach, and maintaining, 100 percent renewable energy across all our operations,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s VP of environment, policy and social initiatives. Jackson added that Apple’s partnership with NV Energy “supports efforts to offer the choice of green energy to Nevada residents and businesses.”

The Reno facility supports various Apple iCloud-based programs, including Siri, FaceTime and iMessage, Jackson said in the press release. And Cupertino might be doubling down on its campus there. The company has expanded the facility in Reno’s Technology Park several times in the last few years. And earlier this month, the tech giant filed a permit to double the size of its existing data center, according to Data Center Knowledge.

While Cupertino is working to power as much of its operations with renewable energy as possible, the company has said that all of its data centers currently run solely on clean energy sources. One of the company’s next big clean energy projects should be the Apple Campus 2 headquarters in Cupertino, California — which will be largely powered by solar panels and renewable energy purchases.

Apple plans to have the additional 200-megawatt solar power plant running by 2019, the company said.