Tech giant Amazon is investing in its first Canadian wind farm.
The company said it will partner with developer Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners on a 495-megawatt capacity wind farm to be built in Vulcan County in southern Alberta.
The announcement on Thursday marks Amazon's fourth renewable energy project in Canada and comes on the heels of the recent opening of the company's Travers Solar Project, which is also located in southern Alberta and is the largest solar farm ever constructed in Canada.
That project, together with the newly announced wind farm, will help power Amazon’s local operations in Alberta, including its fulfilment centers, sortation centers, delivery stations and Amazon Web Services data center.
Amazon has also previously invested in a smaller solar farm in Newell County, Alta., and a rooftop solar energy project at an Amazon delivery station in Nisku, Alta.
The company is one of a growing number of large corporations that are seeking to achieve their own environmental commitments by purchasing long-term renewable electricity contracts known as power purchase agreements.
The Alberta electricity market in particular has seen a significant increase in corporate power purchase agreements in recent years — a trend that has contributed to the rapid growth of the renewable energy sector in the province.
“Amazon demonstrates strong leadership in contracting the renewable energy they need to power their operations in Alberta," said Evan Wilson, vice-president of policy at the Canadian Renewable Energy Association.
"There is a similar demand from corporate customers across Canada who want to power their operations with renewable energy."
Amazon has committed to powering its operations with 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030, and says it is on track to reach that goal ahead of schedule.
The company currently has 479 wind and solar projects globally.
Besides Amazon, other companies that have signed renewable power purchase agreements in Canada in recent years include RBC, Shopify, Telus and Ikea.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 16, 2023.
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Now they just need to
Now they just need to convince the Alberta Premier to allow them to build it. I'd love to be a fly on the wall when she tries to talk them into building a gas-fired power plant with CCS instead.
Why would the Canadian Press
Why would the Canadian Press avoid mention of the Alberta government's moratorium on renewables?
On the other hand, why would Amazon proceed while the supposedly temporary moratorium is only half way through its "pause"? What do they know that the public doesn't?
Perhaps Amazon is confident it has the financial resources to force Danielle Smith to let the moratorium expire on schedule or face a protracted and embarrassing court battle with one of the world's largest corporations.
Now that would generate some interesting headlines!
"UCP against investment."
"Wind v. Oil."
"Premier trembles at sight of greenies in suits."
"Smith blinks."
"Smith shoots self in both feet."
"UCP case shot down by judge on 'pretzel logic'".
"Dissing Trudeau easy. Dissing Amazon - not gonna happen."
"Bezos offers premier Smith seat on rocket to Mars."
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