An arial veiw of Apple's Maiden, North Carolina data center
(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — According to a whole slew of reports appearing this week, technology giant Apple is building the “Project Dolphin Solar Farm” in connection to its $1B data center in Maiden, North Carolina.
The company has reportedly been granted license to start preparing 171 acres located next to the data center for the solar farm.
Reports say many of Apple’s other facilities are powered by renewable energy sources. But the North Carolina facility is currently supplied with power by local utility Duke Energy, whose power is mostly generated by coal and nuclear sources (though it does have some solar arrays).
Apple’s facilities in Austin and Sacramento, as well is its data center in Cork, Ireland are reportedly running on solar power currently.
The company’s filings for permits – which would provide some more insight into how big the solar farm will be, and how it will go about supplying energy to the facility – have yet to be submitted.
According to an article in the Charlotte Observer, local officials don’t know much about the solar farm just yet.
Apple has a pretty well regarded track record for environmentally conscious activity. According to Venture Beat, it ranked ninth on Greenpeace’s list of Greenest technology companies, ahead of a few of what you might consider key competitors.
There has been plenty of speculation, and very little confirmation from Apple, on what the massive data center is being used to support. But, given the money and development that is going into the facility, and the fact that earlier this week the company made big news by hiring away the data center chief from Yahoo, the data center is clearly an area of focus for the company.
About Liam Eagle
Liam Eagle has worked as a contributor to the Web Host Industry Review since its inception in 2000, and as editor since 2003. He has been editor of the WHIR's print magazine since its launch. His daily involvement in the gathering and reporting of Web hosting news and his regular interaction with Web hosting leaders gives him an uncommonly broad appreciation of the issues and tends facing the business. Through his WHIR blog, Liam spots Web hosting trends and offers opinions on the industry-wide impacts of major developments and the motivation behind big announcements. Follow him on Twitter @liameagle
No related posts.
