Verizon Enters Renewable PPAs for 450 MW of RE Capacity

Verizon has entered into four more long-term renewable energy purchase agreements (PPAs) totaling more than 450 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy capacity

Verizon Communications has announced that it has entered into four more long-term renewable energy purchase agreements (PPAs) totaling more than 450 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy capacity as part of its commitment to be carbon neutral in its operations (scope 1 and 2) by 2035. These agreements, which are virtual power purchase agreements, will help finance the re-powering of wind energy facilities and the construction of new solar facilities.

Verizon entered into two Renewable Energy PPAs with Brookfield Renewable for an aggregate of up to 160 MW of capacity at two wind energy facilities that are being repowered. The wind energy facilities are located in New York where Verizon has significant energy usage, and the repowered facilities are expected to be fully operational in 2021. The agreements have 12-year terms and generally are expected to be financially settled.

The firm has also entered into two agreements with First Solar for an aggregate of up to 296 MW of capacity from two solar facilities that are under development in the PJM Interconnection regional market and that First Solar intends to power using its lowest carbon footprint solar modules. The agreements with First Solar have 15-year terms from the commencement of each facility’s entry into commercial operations, which is expected to occur in late 2022. The agreements are generally expected to be financially settled.

In 2019 Verizon issued a $1 billion green bond to help fund the company’s sustainability efforts, including our initiative to source or generate renewable energy equivalent to at least 50% of our total annual electricity consumption by 2025,” said James Gowen, Verizon’s chief sustainability officer and vice president, supply chain operations. “Bringing this additional renewable energy to the grids where Verizon consumes energy is an important step towards meeting this commitment.”

Earlier this year, the firm had announced that it had entered into agreements for an aggregate of more than 380 MW of renewable energy under development in Texas and Illinois. It anticipates that the renewable energy capacity supported by the renewable PPAs, the company has executed to date will enable 981,444 million metric tons of CO_2e to be avoided annually.