Amazon becomes top corporate renewable energy buyer in U.S.

After announcing 14 new renewable energy projects in North America and Europe, Amazon has reached a sustainability milestone.

The e-tail giant is launching new renewable energy projects in the U.S., Canada, Finland, and Spain, as part of its broader commitment to decarbonize business operations and reach net-zero carbon by 2040. As a result, Amazon is now the largest corporate buyer of renewable energy in the U.S. These latest projects will bring Amazon’s total renewable energy investments to 10 gigawatts of electricity production capacity, enough to power 2.5 million U.S. homes.

Already the largest corporate buyer of renewable energy in Europe and globally, Amazon continues to work toward its goal of powering 100% of its activities with renewable energy by 2025—five years ahead of its original target. 

Among the new projects are 11 in the U.S., including the first solar projects in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Pennsylvania. The other projects are the largest solar farm in Canada, Amazon’s first renewable energy project in Finland, and the company’s fifth project in Spain.

The utility-scale solar and wind projects will supply renewable energy for Amazon’s corporate offices, fulfillment centers, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) data centers. Amazon now has 232 renewable energy projects around the world, including 85 utility-scale wind and solar projects and 147 solar rooftops on facilities and stores worldwide.

Amazon and Global Optimism co-founded the Climate Pledge in 2019, a commitment to reach the Paris Agreement 10 years early and be net-zero carbon by 2040. The Pledge now has 108 signatories, including Verizon, Siemens, Microsoft, and Best Buy. 

Some of Amazon’s other steps to reduce emissions across its operations include delivering its Shipment Zero vision to make all shipments net-zero carbon, with 50% net-zero carbon by 2030; purchasing 100,000 electric delivery vehicles, the largest order ever of electric delivery vehicles; and investing $2 billion in the development of decarbonizing services and solutions through the Climate Pledge Fund.

“We’re driving hard to fulfill The Climate Pledge—our commitment to reach net-zero carbon by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement,” said Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and CEO. “Our investments in wind and solar energy in the U.S. and around the world send a signal that investing in green technologies is the right thing to do for the planet and citizens—as well as for the long-term success of businesses of all sizes across all industries everywhere.”

To see Amazon’s renewable energy projects around the world, visit the company’s interactive map.