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Apple hired former NV Energy VP Bobby Hollis as its Senior Renewable Energy Manager earlier this month, according to Hollis's LinkedIn page (via Mike Taylor). Hollis spent five years at electric company NV Energy in Nevada, where he served as the Vice President of Renewable Energy and Origination.
Hollis also served on the board of the Solar Electric Power Association before leaving NV Energy and was also recently named one of Las Vegas's 40 Under Forty business leaders.
Hollis's duties at NV Energy included leading renewable energy efforts and creating energy supply contracts the company. It's possible he worked on contracts with Apple while still serving as VP of NV Energy, as Apple and the electric company have partnered up to build a solar panel farm next to Apple's Reno data center. The solar array, which will generate approximately 18–20 megawatts of power, is expected to be completed sometime next year.
Renewable energy is a key part of Apple's efforts to reduce its environmental impact. All of the company's data centers run on 100% renewable energy, as do 75% of its corporate facilities. Greenpeace featured Apple as a "Green Energy Innovator" back in early April as a result of its renewable energy policies.
Apple recently overhauled its Environmental Responsibility website and introduced a new "Better" video explaining its commitment to environmentally friendly values. The company also hired former EPA chief Lisa Jackson as its vice president of environmental initiatives back in May of 2013.
Top Rated Comments
A logical step for Apple. The only thing remarkable about that is why it took so long for Apple to get more top talent in Renewable Energy Management to join their effort. After the Browett fiasco, they are no doubt more careful.
With the level of investment that Apple is making in renewables, I am starting to think that they may actually surprise us and come up with something to disrupt this space.
Too soon for reality I am sure, but I could see them developing a better way to harness the sun to eliminate chargers for the phone. And if we push it even further, they could develop a phone that requires no battery. That would allow for super thin, transparent phones we see in futuristic drawings.