Commercial, Solar  -  March 4, 2021

Visa adds solar to the grid to power Virginia data center

Visa announced March 3 that it has entered into an agreement that will provide its Virginia data center with 100% renewable energy for five years.

The global payments technology company’s center in Virginia is its largest data center and accounts for over one-third of the company’s global electricity use. Visa completed the agreement for solar-powered electricity with MP2 Energy, a subsidiary of Shell North America.

“Promoting sustainable ways of doing business to combat climate change is a key part of our sustainability strategy,” Douglas Sabo, chief sustainability officer at Visa, said in a statement. “The agreement with MP2 Energy contributes to Visa’s climate action agenda, supports new renewable energy generation across the commonwealth of Virginia, and contributes to a positive impact on the environment and local economic development.”

This announcement follows the completion of Visa’s goal to transition to 100% renewable electricity for its offices and data centers in January 2020, which it achieved through a combination of enrollments in utility and other renewable programs and the purchase of renewable energy certificates. Part of the company’s sustainability strategy includes supporting the addition of renewable energy capacity to the grid.

Visa expects to begin sourcing solar power from MP2 Energy in February 2023. The energy will also replace a portion of Visa’s renewable energy supply that was previously supported by renewable energy credits.

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