Meta – formally known as Facebook – have signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Apex Clean Energy via Great Pathfinder Wind, a 225MW project located in Boone and Hamilton Counties in central Iowa. Great Pathfinder will be Meta’s second clean power purchase in Iowa.
Great Pathfinder Wind is aiming to help support Meta’s operations in the region, including its data centre campus approximately 40 miles away in Altoona, Iowa, which recently announced an expansion in December 2021. Meta has been part of the Iowa community since breaking ground on its data centre in 2013. Once completed, the data centre will represent an investment of more than $2.5 billion and support for over 400 jobs. The wind project will help Meta continue supporting its global operations with 100 per cent renewable energy.
“Our partnership with Meta positions Great Pathfinder Wind as a best-in-class clean energy project benefiting communities in central Iowa and across the Hawkeye State,” said Mark Goodwin, Apex Clean Energy president and CEO. “Leveraging Iowa’s tremendous wind resources will accelerate the deployment of clean energy, create local jobs, and generate significant local and state economic investment—a trifecta of benefits only possible through trusted collaboration.”
“We are proud to partner with Apex to continue bringing new renewable energy resources, investment, and jobs to Iowa through this new wind project,” said Urvi Parekh, director of renewable energy at Meta. “Iowa’s ability to host high-quality wind projects, while providing a welcoming business environment, has made it a great home for our data centre, and we hope this investment demonstrates our continued commitment to the state and the local community.”
In addition to the economic benefits created by Meta’s data centre, Great Pathfinder Wind hopes to create significant local benefits in Boone and Hamilton Counties, generating approximately $32 million in local tax revenue, $74 million in payments to landowners, 270 full-time local jobs during construction, and nine long-term local operations positions. Great Pathfinder Wind is expected to begin commercial operations in 2022.
