Only six weeks ago federal energy regulators approved Apple as an independent power producer, allowing the tech giant to buy and sell power. But unbeknownst to the rest of the world, Apple already had a 50 MW solar project under construction in the Arizona desert, which would serve as its first foray into this market.
Yesterday Arizona utility cooperative Salt River Power announced that its board of directors has approved a 25-year power contract with Apple to buy the output of the Bonnybrooke solar plant, breaking the secrecy around the project. The project has already completed construction and is currently in the process of connecting to the grid.
SRP says that the price it is paying for the electricity is a “wholesale market rate”, but declined to state exactly what that price is, citing a non-disclosure agreement.
The Bonnybrooke project is located east of Apple’s data center in Mesa, Arizona.
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