Apple Inc. owns Largest Private Solar System in U.S.

       Apple Inc. had announced on Friday that fully 75% of its corporate facilities as well as their data centers are powered by renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, hydro and geothermal power. This is because Apple has built the nation's largest privately owned solar array for its Maiden, N.C., data center.
       "In 2012, we completed construction on the nation's largest end user-owned, onsite photovoltaic array on land surrounding the data center," the company had disclosed on Friday, announcing plans to shoot for 100% renewable power sources. "The 100-acre 20-megawatt facility is able to produce 42 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy sources," Apple said. "And we're currently building a second 20-megawatt solar photovoltaic facility on nearby land that should be operational in late 2013."
        Apple has also operated a 10-megawatt fuel cell installation at Maiden, which uses biogas to create 83 million kilowatt hours of energy. "It's the largest such facility not operated by a power company in the country," the company had claimed.
        Greenpeace International senior IT analyst Gary Cook had applauded Apple Inc. for how far it has come, while also noting the challenges ahead. "Apple's announcement shows that it has made real progress in its commitment to lead the way to a clean energy future," Cook said. "Apple still has major roadblocks to meeting its 100% clean energy commitment in North Carolina, where renewable energy policies are under siege and electric utility Duke Energy is intent on blocking wind and solar energy from entering the grid," he added.
        Apple proclaimed, "Its goal was not for just North Carolina but for facilities across the country and around the world. We won't stop working until we achieve 100% throughout Apple."

Apple has built the nation's largest privately owned solar array for its Maiden, N.C., data center