MONROE, Ga., March 7, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Walton
Electric Membership Corporation (EMC), a consumer-owned utility
with a reputation for community service and an impressive solar
energy program, is Facebook, Inc.'s choice to power its new Newton
Data Center with 100 percent renewable energy.
Walton EMC will install hundreds of acres of solar panels on
Georgia's electric grid as part of
an innovative power supply agreement with the technology company.
Besides generating Facebook's green energy, the solar energy
project will create hundreds of jobs and boost both the local and
state economies.
The power purchase arrangement designed for customer choice is
an industry first, said Walton EMC CEO Ronnie Lee. Walton EMC is a national leader in
renewable energy. The cooperative designed a community-supported
solar energy program that has served as a model for electric
utilities nationwide.
"We are happy that we could guarantee the renewable energy
solution that Facebook was searching for," Lee said. "And we are
pleased to be partnering with them on a power supply arrangement
that can serve as a positive economic and environmental template
for future industrial developments throughout the nation."
The renewable energy partnership was announced during a press
conference today as Gov. Nathan Deal
confirmed that Facebook is locating its newest data center adjacent
to Interstate 20 in Newton
County.
"We are committed to powering our data centers with 100 percent
clean and renewable energy, and finding strong partners that can
help us achieve that ambitious goal is a key part of our selection
process," said Rachel Peterson, vice
president of data center strategy at Facebook. "We are excited to
work with Walton EMC to bring hundreds of megawatts of renewable
energy to the electrical grid in Georgia."
Essential in this process is another partner, Morgan Stanley's
commodities division. As Walton EMC's wholesale energy supplier,
Morgan Stanley is helping provide long-term cost stability and
reliability from renewable projects to both Walton EMC and
Facebook.
"Morgan Stanley is extremely pleased to partner with Walton EMC
and Facebook on this important, landmark transaction. This
innovative transaction demonstrates our commitment to helping our
clients secure low-cost, clean energy through market-based
solutions," said Jay Rubenstein,
head of the North American power and gas business at Morgan
Stanley.
The Newton Data Center is Facebook's ninth such state-of-the-art
facility in the country. Three buildings totaling 970,000 square
feet will comprise the data center's campus.
Facebook data centers are among the most advanced,
energy-efficient facilities in the world, using 38 percent less
electricity than the average data center. Several factors
contribute to this, including:
- Cooling is accomplished using outdoor air, rather than air
conditioners.
- Hyper-efficient hardware powers Facebook apps and
services.
- All electricity used is 100 percent clean and renewable.
Teaming on an innovative renewable energy solution is a natural
for the like-minded companies, Lee said.
"Our goals and missions are similar in many ways," he said. "One
of the bedrock principles that our cooperative operates by is
'concern for community.' Likewise, Facebook has shown that it cares
about the communities where it chooses to locate its
state-of-the-art facilities. That extends to caring for our
environment."
Facebook's Newton Data Center is planned to be operational in
2020. The facility will help bring Facebook apps and services to
more than 2 billion people worldwide.
ABOUT
Walton EMC is a customer-owned power company that serves
accounts over its 10-county service area between Atlanta and Athens,
Ga. Its primary focus is providing exceptional service to
its 127,000 residential, commercial and industrial customer-owner
accounts while also caring for the area's communities. Learn more
at facebook.com/waltonemc.
Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) is a leading global financial services
firm providing investment banking, securities, wealth management
and investment management services. With offices in more than 42
countries, the firm's employees serve clients worldwide including
corporations, governments, institutions and individuals. For more
information, visit morganstanley.com.
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SOURCE Walton EMC