Facebook to Buy Solar Energy From Apex

By Kimberly Chin

Facebook Inc. (FB) has agreed to buy renewable energy from Apex Clean Energy Inc.'s Altavista Solar Project in Virginia as it looks to shift most of its operations to clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Under the agreement, Facebook will receive 61.6 megawatts of solar energy from the Campbell County, Virginia, project. Altavista Solar, which is scheduled to become operational in 2020, will also be Apex's largest solar-energy project to date as well as its first renewable-energy facility on the East Coast, Apex said.

The company expects the project to generate about 200 full-time jobs during its construction and bring in more than $1.8 million in local tax revenue over the project's 35-year lifespan.

The move follows a separate deal Facebook made with Apex in August when it agreed to purchase wind power from its Aviator Wind East project. The project, which is located in Coke County, Texas, is slated to become operational next year as well.

Write to Kimberly Chin at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

November 21, 2019 14:53 ET (19:53 GMT)

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