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April 2014 - Google Inc. has partnered with MidAmerican Energy to supply up to 407 megawatts (MW) of electricity use from renewable energy sources for its data center in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Under the contract, MidAmerican will sell Google energy bundled with renewable energy certificates from the company's Wind VIII program. To date, Google's renewable energy agreements now comprise more than 1,000 MW and its investments constitute more than $1 billion in 15 renewable energy investments internationally.
Press Release -
An Earth Day treat: lots of renewable energy for our Iowa data center
December 2013 - When Facebook was seeking a location for its newest data center, a deciding factor was the potential to help develop a new wind farm. The social media company managed to satisfy this desire in Altoona, Iowa where Facebook is building a data center and partnering with MidAmerican Energy, the local utility, which will build, own, and operate a new 138-megawatt (MW) wind farm in nearby Wellsburg, Iowa. Facebook will buy renewable energy certificates (RECs) produced by the wind farm to match 100 percent of the data center's electricity use, and the wind farm is likely to generate more electricity than the data center will need. Facebook has set a goal of powering its data centers with 25 percent clean and renewable energy by 2015. In 2012 Facebook's data centers used 678,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) and the company sourced 19 percent of its total energy, 134,000 MWh, from clean and renewable resources.
Press Release -
Bringing New Wind to Iowa
Additional Information -
Facebook's Carbon & Energy Impact
July 2009 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Green Power Partnership announced that green power buyers in Illinois combined for purchases of more than 445 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity from renewable resources for 2008. The City of Chicago topped green power buyers in the state, with a purchase of 215 million kWh of wind and biomass energy from MidAmerican Energy. Other large buyers included PepsiAmericas Inc., which purchased 157 million kWh from Sterling Planet, Northwestern University in Evanston, and healthcare company Baxter International Inc. An additional six Illinois companies were recognized by the Partnership for buying enough green power to supply 100% of their electricity demand for the year. These were General Converting Inc., Talbott Hotel, Goodness Greenness, Tartan Realty Group, Digital Hub, and Farr Associates.
News Release: EPA'S Illinois Green Power Partners Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions
February 2009 - World Energy Solutions, Inc., an operator of online exchanges for energy and green commodities, announced that Burleson Independent School District (ISD) in Texas conducted its first electricity auction via the World Energy Exchange and awarded a 36-month contract to MidAmerican Energy Company for electricity including renewable energy. Under the agreement, Burleson ISD will purchase 38.3 million kWh of electricity, including 5% renewable power, at a discount to the generic electricity 36-month fixed price.
The auction attracted multiple suppliers who collectively tallied more than 50 bids. World Energy has also recently conducted auctions for a number of cities in Texas, including Temple, Waco, Killeen and Pflugerville.
News Release - Burleson Independent School District Conducts Successful Electricity and Green Power Auction on World Energy Exchange
January 2004 - MidAmerican Energy announced the availability of a green power option for its nearly 600,000 Iowa-based residential and business customers. Under the Renewable Advantage program, customers can make one-time, periodic, or monthly contributions to support the development of new renewable energy resources. Customers can sign up to participate either by using a check-off box on their utility bill or via the utility's Web site. Suggested contribution levels are $2.50 per month for residential customers and $5 per month for business customers.
The funds collected will be used to construct a new, 1.5-MW wind turbine in Iowa that will be in addition to a 310-MW wind project already planned by the utility. One-fifth of the $1.6 million turbine cost will be covered by the voluntary customer contributions with MidAmerican shareholders funding the remaining amount. Future customer contributions could be used to develop additional renewable energy resources, such as solar, biomass, and animal waste methane facilities.
News Release - MidAmerican to Launch Voluntary Renewable Energy Program
MidAmerican Media Contact: Allan Urlis (515) 281-2785
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