Microsoft Signs Deal to Deploy Renewable Energy in Underinvested Communities
Microsoft has signed an agreement with carbon solution firm Clearloop for the deployment of up to 100 megawatts of renewable energy projects, aimed at bringing clean energy to disadvantaged communities.
The new projects will be deployed over the next three years, and will expand access to clean energy and drive economic development in about 20 American communities with carbon-intense grids, Clearloop said, while helping Microsoft meet its carbon reduction goals
The new projects will provide solar energy for communities in Arkansas and Louisiana, diversifying the energy mix in those states and preventing more than 5 million metric tons of carbon from entering the atmosphere over the next four decades, Clearloop said. Studies show that solar accounts for just 1.3% of the energy mix in Arkansas, and 0.3% in Louisiana, both well below the US average of 4.0%, industry experts said.
By matching customer electricity usage with new renewable energy generation, Microsoft will be able to take advantage of emission offsets. This will help support Microsoft’s goal of becoming carbon negative by 2030.
Danielle Decatur, Microsoft Director of Environmental Justice, said:
“Clearloop helps Microsoft achieve its carbon negative goals by supporting renewable energy projects in communities across the country that might otherwise miss out on the economic and environmental benefits of the energy transition.”
Clearloop helps create solutions for organizations to decarbonize the economy and accelerate the development of new solar projects in American communities where significant economic and environmental benefits can be achieved. Working with environmental tech nonprofit WattTime, Nashville-based Clearloop was an early pioneer of using emissions factors to identify strategic points on the grid where new solar generation can significantly accelerate decarbonization and expand equitable access to clean energy.
The first four solar projects in the multi-year agreement are set to break ground over the next few months and will be operational by year’s end, the companies said. These will be among the first large-scale solar projects interconnecting and serving the local distribution grids in Poinsett County, Cross County, and Desha County in Arkansas, as well as Bienville Parish in Louisiana.
As part of this agreement with Microsoft, Clearloop will create a Community Benefits Fund, managed by nonprofit Sustain Our Future Foundation, to support positive outcomes for local communities impacted by unhealthy social and environmental conditions.
Laura Zapata, Clearloop CEO and Co-founder, said:
“We applaud Microsoft for using its purchasing power to pilot and scale innovative structures that accelerate grid decarbonization in a way that ensures all American communities can see themselves represented as we transform our economy with clean, innovative technologies. Community-centric climate action by forward-thinking companies like Microsoft—recognizing that not all megawatt hours have the same carbon impact—are making access to carbon-free energy by more Americans possible.”