Commercial, Distributed Generation, Solar, Sourcing Renewables, Wind  -  January 12, 2016

Switch data centers going green with 100% renewable energy

The data center provider Switch recently announced that all of its SUPERNAP data centers and its more than 1,000 clients who are colocated at their facilities, will be powered by 100% renewable energy.

According to a company news release, the move makes Switch the world's largest colocation data center environment to adopt all-inclusive green technology. 

Switch was also the first data center provider and first Nevada company to join the American Business Act on Climate Pledge, according to its news release. The White House-led initiative brings private-sector companies together who pledge to combat climate change; the program now has more than 150 participating companies.

In what Switch called "an effort to further cement its commitment to implementing renewable energy use," the company worked with electric utility NV Energy and the Nevada Public Utilities Commission to develop the NV Green Energy Rider tariff for southern Nevada. The tariff utilizes NV Energy’s network of renewable generation resources including geo-thermal, wind, hydro and solar combined with two Switch solar generation facilities to deliver 100% green energy services to Switch.

“Switch's leadership has opened the door for other large customers, including the city of Las Vegas, to meet their own renewable energy goals without negatively impacting the rates of other customers," NV Energy President and CEO Paul Caudill said in the release.

Switch is part of the World Wildlife Fund-World Resources Institute joint initiative known as the Corporate Renewable Energy Buyer’s Principles, which seeks to make it easier for businesses to directly purchase renewable energy.

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