EDP Renewables North America LLC and Microsoft Corp. have executed two 15-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) that will bring the Timber Road IV Wind Farm to Ohio’s Paulding County.
These PPAs, totaling 125 MW, were included in an announcement EDPR issued on July 24, 2018. The 125 MW Timber Road IV Wind Farm, expected to be operational this year, will produce enough clean electricity to annually power more than 36,000 average Ohio homes.
EDPR points out that the facility will also yield employment opportunities – approximately 200 full-time-equivalent jobs during construction (expected to commence in several months, following approval from the Ohio Power Siting Board on Feb. 21) and seven full-time positions during operations. In addition, the new wind farm will generate approximately $1.1 million each year in annual property tax revenue for the local government, as well as land lease payments to area farmers and landowners.
“Bringing new wind projects online, particularly in states with relatively few projects but strong potential for growth, delivers both economic benefits and environmental progress in the near term and well into the future,” says Brian Janous, general manager for energy and sustainability at Microsoft. “We are constantly looking for opportunities where our corporate demand can not only be met but can also accelerate the transition to renewable sources. EDPR has done great work in Ohio, and we’re pleased to partner with them to grow this market.”
These agreements with EDPR bring Microsoft’s directly purchased renewable energy portfolio to nearly 1.4 GW.
“Microsoft exemplifies admirable energy supply and sustainability goals, and EDP Renewables is proud to partner with it to accelerate its efforts to power its data centers with renewable energy sources,” says Miguel Prado, CEO of EDP Renewables North America. “Agreements like these are a prime example of EDP Renewables’ ability to work with corporate customers to help them achieve their renewable energy targets and reduce carbon emissions.”
The Timber Road IV Wind Farm will be EDPR’s fourth operational wind farm in Ohio and its third operational wind farm in Paulding County. The four wind farms total 392 MW, contributing more than 40% of the state’s installed wind capacity, says EDPR.
