With a goal to power their operations with 100% renewable energy by 2025, Amazon partnered with Duke Energy to harness the power of the sun.
In order to achieve this goal, Amazon and Duke Energy collaborated on a solar project where they installed over 5,600 solar panels on the rooftop of the Amazon Air facility at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG). It’s the largest utility-scale rooftop solar site in the state of Kentucky, according to a press release from Duke Energy.
“This solar project is the result of close collaboration between Duke Energy and Amazon, and reflects our companies’ respective goals to achieve net-zero carbon emissions, as well as our commitments to support a cleaner energy future for our customers and communities,” Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky President Amy Spiller said.
The panels will be able to generate up to two megawatts of electricity which is being routed into the local electricity grid, capable of producing enough energy for about 400 average-sized homes. The project is one of two in Kentucky which recently became operational – the other being a solar farm south of Lexington in Garrard County.
Construction on the project began in August 2021. The was location enticing due to the accessible, flat roof which can receive large amounts of sunlight throughout the day. Crews used a helicopter to lift the solar panels onto the rooftop. Duke Energy is in charge of operating the solar system. Amazon leases the rooftop to Duke Energy for free.
“I want to congratulate Amazon and Duke Energy for their collaboration that demonstrates both companies’ commitment to move towards a more environmentally friendly energy future for Kentucky and for their work that creates healthier communities,” Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Goodman said in a press release.
Amazon now has five total energy projects in Kentucky, including preexisting solar farms in Madison, Caldwell and Fleming counties. According to Amazon, once all five locations are concurrently operational, the solar projects can generate more than 915 gigawatt-hours of renewable energy — the equivalent amount needed to power approximately 86,000 homes in the United States each year.
“This facility kicked off really in earnest in 2019, which was exact same year that we launched The Climate Pledge, which is our commitment to be net zero carbon by 2040 — 10 years ahead of The Paris Agreement,” said Chris Roe, Amazon’s director of energy and sustainable operations.
Similarly, Duke Energy also says they’re in the midst of a transition to clean energy. The energy giant has set a target date to achieve net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. Duke Energy currently operates three solar sites in Northern Kentucky: two in Walton and one in Crittenden.
In 2021, Amazon began operations at their $1.5 billion air cargo hub at CVG. The massive 1,100 acre campus can support a fleet of up to 100 Amazon Prime cargo planes. For CVG, the addition of the Amazon further cemented the airport as a global hub for cargo shipping and logistics. Prior to Amazon’s arrival, CVG was already home to a large DHL campus.
In total, Amazon says they’ve invested more than $27 billion into Kentucky since 2010 and has created approximately 23,000 jobs in the state as of January 2023.
