McDonald’s has signed two long-term, large-scale virtual power purchase agreements to buy the renewable energy generated by Aviator Wind West and a solar project located in Texas.
The virtual PPAs total 380 MW: 160 MW from the as-yet-unnamed solar development and 220 MW from Aviator Wind West, which is a part of the overall 525 MW Aviator Wind project located in Coke County, Texas. That project is being developed by Apex Clean Energy and is owned by Ares Management.
The deal represents the first wind energy contract signed by McDonald’s and will help the iconic company make strides toward its Climate Action Target to reduce GHG emissions related to McDonald’s restaurants and offices by 36% by 2030. The agreement with Aviator Wind West, together with the virtual solar power purchase agreement, positions McDonald’s to add more renewable energy to the grid than any other U.S. restaurant company to date.
Aviator Wind will be the largest single-phase project in ERCOT and the largest single-phase, single-site project in the U.S. Apex is providing both construction and asset management services for the project, which will be operational in 2020.
