Facebook plans to purchase an approximately 200 MW portion of the 525 MW Aviator Wind project in Texas.
Aviator Wind, being developed by Apex Clean Energy, is owned by funds managed by Ares Management Corp.’s infrastructure and power strategy. Located in Coke County, the project is expected to be the largest single-phase, single-site wind project in the U.S., according to the partners.
“We are excited to partner with Facebook to help it achieve its long-term renewable energy goal,” says Keith Derman, co-head of Ares Infrastructure and Power. “Corporate leadership is driving the energy transition, and this project fits perfectly with our value-add strategy of investing in clean energy projects.”
“As part of our goal to support 100 percent of our operations with renewable energy, we want to help drive the energy transition and increase access to wind and solar power around the world,” adds Urvi Parekh, renewable energy manager at Facebook. “This project will be an important part of successfully reaching our targets, and we are thrilled to have the support of Ares Infrastructure and Power and Apex Clean Energy to bring this new wind energy online.”
Aviator Wind East, expected to be operational in 2020, will help support Facebook’s operations in the region. The power purchase agreement will help the company reach its goal to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions 75% and support 100% of its operations with renewable energy in 2020. Facebook’s portion of the Aviator Wind project will be 199.76 MW. (Another corporate PPA for the majority of the balance of Aviator Wind, known as Aviator Wind West, will be announced at a later date.)
“The ambitious sustainability goals of corporate leaders like Facebook will play a key role in accelerating the transition to renewable energy – faster than ever anticipated – in the years to come,” says Mark Goodwin, president and CEO of Apex Clean Energy. “With this power purchase agreement, Facebook continues to make strides toward achieving its renewable energy goals, driving meaningful progress within the industry and paving a path for other corporations to do the same.”
Aviator Wind is Ares Infrastructure and Power’s 11th wind investment. Apex Clean Energy will provide both construction and asset management services for the project.
