Across the U.S., the definition of renewable energy can change by state and jurisdiction. The California Energy Commission has published a benchmark Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS), which is one of the most ambitious in the country. California requires energy service providers to purchase 27% renewables by 2017, 33% by 2020, and 50% by 2030. By purchasing 100% renewable energy by today’s RPS standard, Infomart is decades ahead of California’s requirement.
“Since the company’s inception, Infomart has consistently been ahead of our competitors in demonstrating commitment to environmental responsibility,” states John Sheputis, President Infomart Data Centers. “Data centers use substantial amounts of energy and we believe it’s our moral duty to be both an efficient operator and to make responsible choices about energy procurement. Having a great PUE is not enough. Simply buying Renewable Energy Certificates from a distant source is not enough.”
Sheputis went on to discuss why price is no longer a barrier to buying renewable. “Over the last few years, renewable power pricing has become competitive with higher carbon energy sources,” he comments. “Using Direct Access to buy a 100% renewable mix 24?7 costs 6% more than the higher-carbon alternative. We could have saved money, but this was clearly the more responsible choice.”
Infomart’s renewable energy initiative isn’t the first in its ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility. Infomart Portland set the renewable power precedent for the Infomart data center portfolio in 2015, when the property used Direct Access rights to source power from the nation’s largest producer of hydroelectric power, the Bonneville Power Administration. In addition, Infomart Silicon Valley recently converted to using non-potable, or “gray water,” for 100% of the mechanical infrastructure and irrigation surrounding the facility, earning Infomart the 2016 Recycled Water Customer of the Year award. The LEED Gold Silicon Valley facility is also the only wholesale data center in California to provide Direct Access power pricing with metered power solutions. All Infomart properties are designed to maximize energy efficiency and maintain industry-leading PUE metrics.