First Solar, Rocky Mountain Power to Deliver Clean Energy for Facebook Data Center

   By Stephen Nakrosis 
 

Power from First Solar Inc.'s (FSLR) Cove Mountain 2 solar power plant will support Facebook Inc.'s (FB) Eagle Mountain Data Center in Utah, the energy company said Thursday.

The power will be provided via a power purchase agreement with Rocky Mountain Power, First Solar said.

Rocky Mountain Power is a division of PacifiCorp and part of Berkshire Hathaway Energy.

Cove Mountain 2 will be built in Iron County, Utah. The start of operations is scheduled for 2020. Once operational, the plant is expected to generate electricity equivalent to the energy needs of 36,000 average Utah homes. The plant is expected to displace 235,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually, equivalent to removing 46,000 cars from the road, First Solar said.

The 122MW (AC) plant will also save 800 million liters of water annually, based on Utah averages, First Solar said.

"This project is an important part of our commitment to support all of our data centers and offices with 100 percent renewable energy in 2020," said Paul Clements, Director of Energy and Infrastructure at Facebook. "Our data centers are among the most water- and energy-efficient facilities in the world."

--Write to Stephen Nakrosis at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 30, 2019 16:08 ET (20:08 GMT)

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