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Microsoft to Purchase 315 MW of Solar Power in Virginia

Microsoft Corp. will purchase 315 MW of solar energy from Pleinmont I and II, two new projects in the commonwealth of Virginia. According to the company, this represents the single largest corporate purchase of solar energy ever in the United States.

The Pleinmont projects are part of a larger 500-MW solar development, owned and operated by sPower, an AES and AIMCo company. The AES Corporation and Alberta Investment Management Corporation acquired FTP Power LLC (sPower) in February of 2017.

“Today, we’re signing the largest corporate solar agreement in the United States, a 315 megawatt project in Virginia that will move us ahead of schedule in creating a cleaner cloud,” said Brad Smith, president, Microsoft.

The project is owned and will be operated by sPower, based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Once operational Pleinmont I and II will consist of more than 750,000 solar panels spread across more than 2,000 acres, and produce approximately 715,000 MWh a year.

“Microsoft’s participation is a game-changer for this project and for other buyers,” said Ryan Creamer, CEO of sPower. “Their early commitment helped ensure that the project continued to move forward and come to fruition at a time of regulatory uncertainty.”

At 500 MW, the full project is anticipated to be the largest solar project in Virginia. It will also rank as the fifth largest solar project in the country.

“Today’s announcement demonstrates that Virginia is quickly becoming a global leader in the clean energy industry,” said Governor Ralph Northam. “I am proud that Microsoft is expanding its commitment to solar energy in Virginia, and I look forward to building upon this victory for clean energy and the jobs that come with it.”