ASU, PayPal to purchase energy from new APS solar plant

Arizona State University (ASU) and PayPal have agreed to purchase the 40 megawatts (MW) of energy produced by a recently unveiled Arizona Public Service Company (APS) solar plant located near Red Rock, Arizona.

“The construction of Red Rock is a great example of how we partner with our commercial customers to find innovative and sustainable solutions that can help them realize their green energy goals,” Daniel Froetscher, APS Senior Vice President of Transmission, Distribution and Customers, said. “ The cooperation between APS, ASU and PayPal demonstrates how the Arizona business community is committed to developing solar energy in a smart, cost-effective manner.”

Both ASU and PayPal agreed to purchase the power as a way to reduce their carbon footprints. ASU produces 25 megawatts of solar energy through on-campus solar sites.

“We are very pleased that the Red Rock Solar Plant will more than double our solar generating capacity to more than 50 megawatts,” Morgan R. Olsen, ASU executive vice president, treasurer and CFO, said. “This project enables us to expand our solar portfolio substantially with no initial capital investment and underscores our sustainability commitment. ASU is proud to continue building our solar collection that has grown to 88 installations since 2004. In calendar year 2017, we expect approximately 30 percent of our electrical needs will be met with clean, renewable solar energy.”

The Red Rock facility is APS’s largest grid-scale solar power plant.