Apple to Open Massive $850M Solar Farm in Monterey, California

Tuesday February 10, 2015 12:21 PM PST by Juli Clover
During today's Goldman Sachs conference, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced that Apple is planning its "boldest, biggest, most ambitious project," yet in the form of a 1,300 acre solar farm in Monterey County, California.

The solar farm, which puts out enough power for almost 60,000 California homes, will provide enough renewable energy for Apple's new campus, every other office it has in California, all 52 stores in the state, and its data center in Newark, California. The solar farm is an $850 million project, which Cook says Apple is doing "because it's right to do."

solarfarm.jpg
Image of Apple's North Carolina solar farm courtesy of Gigaom
We know at Apple that climate change is real and our view is that the time for talk has passed and the time for action is now. We've shown that with what we do.
Though highlighting the solar farm as good for the environment, Tim Cook also pointed towards the fiscal benefit of such a decision, explaining that there's a significant price difference between the fixed price of renewable energy and the price of brown energy. "We're thrilled to continue on the course of leaving the world better than we found it," said Cook.

Apple has already built a series of large solar farms in North Carolina, but at $850m, the Monterey County solar farm will be its most ambitious project yet.

Update: Apple will be partnering with First Solar and contributing $848 million to the First Solar California Flats Solar Project in Monterey County, California. Apple will be receiving 130 megawatts of the solar project under a 25-year power purchase agreement, with the remaining 150MW being sold to Pacific Gas & Electric.

Construction on the California Flats Solar Project will begin in mid-2015 and will finish by the end of 2016.

Tags: Tim Cook, Goldman Sachs Conference, solar farm
94 comments


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Michael Goff
59 months ago

As a lifelong apple user and shareholder, the "right thing" for Apple to do is make the best products on earth and make money doing it. When does this $850M project break even and start to be a smart investment for the shareholders?


And this is what's wrong with people today...
Rating: 43 Votes
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bennibeef
59 months ago

If Apple really wanted to be friendly to the environment, they would support their devices for more than a couple generations.


You better dont try an android phone/tablet
Rating: 10 Votes
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soheilk
59 months ago

As a lifelong apple user and shareholder, the "right thing" for Apple to do is make the best products on earth and make money doing it. When does this $850M project break even and start to be a smart investment for the shareholders?


When the company gets rid of the shareholders like you...
Rating: 8 Votes
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JesperA
59 months ago

If Apple really wanted to be friendly to the environment, they would support their devices for more than a couple generations.

I have apple products that is 5-6 generations old and works ok, since i switched to apple product my lifespan of my computers and phones have increased greatly, almost never feel the need to buy a new one.
Rating: 8 Votes
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ButteryScrollin
59 months ago

As a lifelong apple user and shareholder, the "right thing" for Apple to do is make the best products on earth and make money doing it. When does this $850M project break even and start to be a smart investment for the shareholders?


If you want them to do things only for ROI reasons, you should get out of this stock.
Rating: 8 Votes
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ahlsn
59 months ago

As a lifelong apple user and shareholder, the "right thing" for Apple to do is make the best products on earth and make money doing it. When does this $850M project break even and start to be a smart investment for the shareholders?


At the moment they announced it. Since me and many others care about this stuff and wouldn't buy Apple products if they took no responsibility.
Rating: 6 Votes
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cjmillsnun
59 months ago

If Apple really wanted to be friendly to the environment, they would support their devices for more than a couple generations.


And that's why my early '09 whitebook (my spare Mac) can run Yosemite.

That's 6 generations old.....
Rating: 5 Votes
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Morgenland
59 months ago
Reply to the "shareholder"

As a lifelong apple user and shareholder, the "right thing" for Apple to do is make the best products on earth and make money doing it. When does this $850M project break even and start to be a smart investment for the shareholders?


Boy, I am also shareholder. And I am proud that Apple may occasionally break out of the economic Banker game. This and this alone proves how much Apple is.
Rating: 5 Votes
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Rufuss Sewell
59 months ago

Tim wants to do the right thing? How about paying corporate taxes?


Tim follows the law. He does not write tax law.
Rating: 5 Votes
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critter13
59 months ago
seriously?

If Apple really wanted to be friendly to the environment, they would support their devices for more than a couple generations.


Who has better legacy support than apple?

My 2007 MacBook Pro runs yosemite like a champ and iOS 8 supports the 4S which will be a 4 year old device in October....
Rating: 4 Votes
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