AMD to Power Austin Campus with 100% Renewable Energy
Source: GreenBiz.com
AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 28, 2005 - Microprocessor maker AMD has agreed to
purchase green energy derived from renewable resources that will power all
AMD Austin operations for the next ten years including the new AMD Austin
Campus, which is expected to be operational in 2007. The new agreement makes
AMD the largest private Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Green Power
Partner in Texas, the fifth largest private partner in the U.S. and 12th
largest overall partner in the nation.
The green power purchases will be made through the Austin Energy GreenChoice
program, which uses local wind power and landfill methane gas to provide
clean energy, improving air quality by lowering power plant emissions and
reducing reliance on non-replaceable fossil fuels. Turbines at three West
Texas wind farms harness the wind to supply pollution-free energy. Two
landfills, one located just outside Austin and the other located near San
Antonio, collect methane produced by decay to generate electricity.
AMD was one of the first companies in Austin to purchase green power through
the Austin Energy GreenChoice Program and has subscribed to all four batches
of green energy offered since the program was launched in 2000.
"AMD's long-term commitment to green energy is an important step forward in
encouraging wide adoption of renewable energy sources," said Kurt Johnson,
director, EPA Green Power Partnership. "AMD is providing an outstanding
example of environmental leadership."
"The use of green energy is good for the environment and good for business,"
said Craig Garcia, director of global corporate services, AMD. "It helps AMD
reduce overall energy costs because as the price of energy derived from
traditional fossil fuels continues to increase, green power is purchased at
a fixed rate over the life of the contract. According to Austin Energy,
AMD's purchase of green energy over the 10 year period is expected to
eliminate the equivalent pollution created by 9,055 cars in Austin each year
or the amount of energy needed to power 5,263 homes in Austin annually."
The use of 100% green power at the new AMD campus in Austin builds on plans
to use green building techniques and materials to set a new standard for
environmental development. The consolidation of multiple non-manufacturing
offices spread throughout the city into a unified campus located in closer
proximity to the majority of local employees will reduce traffic, minimize
fuel consumption, and improve air quality.
On a global scale, AMD has committed to reduce energy use by 30%, water use
by 40% and greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by the end of 2007, normalized
and relative to 2002 performance levels. In addition, AMD uses cogeneration
facilities to supply nearly 100% of the energy required by Fab 30 and Fab 36
in Dresden, Germany achieving 20% higher efficiency than conventional
systems. |