2 minute read | July.07.2023
Powerex has entered into a long-term agreement with Microsoft to provide 24×7 hourly matching of carbon-free energy for its new datacenter in Washington state. Under this agreement, Powerex will match Microsoft’s hourly datacenter demand with direct deliveries of carbon‐free hydro, solar and wind power on a 24×7, year‐round basis. Orrick advised Microsoft on the agreement.
Powerex is the exclusive marketer of BC Hydro’s surplus capabilities, providing innovative electricity solutions across the West. Powerex’s business consists of trading wholesale power and natural gas, environmental products, ancillary energy services, and financial energy products.
Microsoft enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.
The 24×7 Clean Load Service supports Microsoft’s investment in sustainability at its datacenters, with the goal of being carbon-negative, water positive, and zero waste companywide by 2030.
“This agreement with supports Microsoft’s ambition to have 100% of our electricity consumption, 100% of the time, matched by zero-carbon energy purchases,” said Brian Janous, Vice President of Energy and Renewables at Microsoft. “Microsoft is one of the largest purchasers of renewable energy in the world. Our hope is that by working with innovative suppliers such as Powerex, we help to advance groundbreaking solutions that support the energy transition”
Powerex and Microsoft will work together to meet the datacenter’s electricity needs with new renewable resources that are contracted to Microsoft. Microsoft has closely collaborated with its utility, Douglas County Public Utility District (PUD), to enable these deliveries to the datacenter.
The Orrick team that advised Microsoft was led by Teresa Hill and Lana Le Hir and included Li Shen.