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Energy Investments to Lower Amazon’s Global Carbon Footprint

HARDIN COUNTY, Ohio — Amazon Web Services (AWS), based in Seattle, recently announced its new Wind Farm US Central 2, a 189-megawatt (MW) wind farm in Hardin County that will generate approximately 530,000 MW hours (MWh) of wind energy annually starting in December 2017.

To complete the project, AWS partnered with Pittsburgh-based EverPower to help build, own and operate the wind farm. When the project is completed, AWS’s other renewable energy projects will continue to generate around 2.2 million MWh of energy annually. That’s enough energy to power almost 200,000 U.S. homes, according to a statement.

This project comes after AWS’ recently announcement of its long-term goal to eventually be powered by 100 percent renewable energy in an attempt to lessen the company’s global carbon footprint. The web-service giant is currently on track to exceed its 2016 goal of being powered by 40 percent renewable energy by December 2016.

“We remain committed to achieving our long-term goal of powering the AWS Cloud with 100 percent renewable energy,” said Peter DeSantis, vice president, infrastructure, AWS, in a statement. “There are lots of things that go into making this a reality, including governments implementing policies that stimulate cost-effective renewable energy production, businesses that buy that energy, economical renewable projects from our development partners and utilities as well as technological and operational innovation that drives greater efficiencies in our global infrastructure.”

There are five renewable energy projects and three wind farms that will work alongside Wind Farm US Central 2. The second wind farm, US Central, is a 100-MW wind farm in Paulding County, Ohio. The wind farm is expected to start generating approximately 320,000 MWh of wind energy annually starting in May 2017. The third wind farm is called US East and is a 208-MW wind farm in Perquimans and Pasquotank Counties, both located in North Carolina. This wind farm is expected to start generating approximately 670,000 MWh of wind energy annually starting December 2016.

“Leading companies like AWS are enabling the construction of large, utility-scale renewable power projects that will ultimately help to offset the energy supplied by fossil fuels and create a cleaner, healthier environment for our communities,” said Jim Spencer, CEO of EverPower in a statement.

Beyond the sustainability initiatives focused on powering the AWS global infrastructure, Amazon is investing in several other clean energy initiatives across the company, according to a statement. Examples of other projects include Amazon Solar Farm US East, an 80-MW solar farm in Accomack County, Va., and Amazon Wind Farm Fowler Ridge, a 150-MW wind farm in Benton County, Ind.