EDF Renewables North America announced a 15-year virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) with McDonald’s Corp. The 255 MWac / 332 MWdc Apollo Solar project, located in Texas, is expected to begin delivery of low carbon electricity in June 2024.
Approximately 300 jobs are expected to be created during the 2023-2024 construction phase with more than $30 million generated in new tax revenue over the operating life for taxing entities. Apollo Solar will produce clean energy while minimizing impacts to wildlife, habitat, and other environmental resources.
“Through the purchase of clean energy from Apollo Solar, McDonald’s will be able to reduce GHG emissions in support of their sustainability goals while the project construction phase will provide the local community with a boost to the economy through job creation, local spending with vendors, and an expanded tax base,” said Matt McCluskey, Vice President Development, South Central Region for EDF Renewables
Once complete, the project is expected to generate 619,000 MWh of low-carbon energy annually, enough to meet the consumption of over 1,200 U.S. McDonald’s restaurants.
“We are thrilled to add EDF Renewables and the Apollo Solar project to our U.S. renewable energy portfolio as part of our continued commitment to climate action,” said Elaine Strunk, Sr. Director Global Sustainability, McDonald’s.
Walid Norris, Vice President, Client Solutions for CustomerFirst Renewables says this deal highlights the strong corporate demand for clean energy despite the supply chain issues troubling the solar market.
“The McDonald’s team was determined through their use of innovative contracting structures to execute a major solar procurement that would significantly reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, and they found a great partner with EDF Renewables,” Norris says.
Tags: EDF Renewables
