Apple To Build $850 Million Massive Solar Energy Farm To Power Its Entire California Operations

Considered the initiator for the green technology movement, solar power was first introduced back in the 90s. Though a novel concept that would ease the grip fossil fuels have on United States energy usage, the tech at the time was limited and flawed. Since then, green tech companies have invested much time and resources towards solar power thus improvements have been made. The Inquisitr reported on such, in which solar panels now look like windows, something that will surely aid America’s need to switch over to solar energy. As for world news, Peru was able to provide free electricity by giving solar panels to its poorest citizens.

Now, solar power is once again in the news thanks to Apple. Apparently, the company made famous by the late Steve Jobs is building an $850 million solar power farm. Its goal is to power all of Apple’s operations in California.

According to an article by PC World, Apple will invest a total of $850 million in solar power farm in partnership with First Solar. Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, confirmed this on Tuesday at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference. The farm will cover 1,300 acres, an equivalent of 1,000 American football fields. It is being built in Monterey County, about half an hour south of Apple’s Silicon Valley headquarters.

The plant, which is known as Apple Campus II, will generate enough energy that it could power all of Apple’s operations in California. This includes data centers, retails stores, and offices. That is also enough energy to power 15,000 homes. However, it should be noted that certain Apple operations may or may not consume power directly from the plant. Instead, the investment will lock in a low, fixed rate for renewable energy, and probably obtain renewable energy certificates to offset its carbon footprint. This is all in part of improving Apple’s green credentials. They already have two solar farms, one on the East Coast and another in Nevada.

NBC also followed-up on the initial report, in which they provide a video clip of Tim Cook’s speech at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference, the part detailing the Apple Campus II. It is attached below for your viewing.

Now that you’ve read the article on Apple’s brand new solar energy farm that will power all their California operations, what are your views? Do you think such an endeavor should also be sought out to provide clean, renewable energy for residential use besides commercial and industrial operations?

[Image via Apple Promotions]