Amazon aims to build two utility-scale solar arrays in eastern Arkansas, part of a plan to launch renewable energy projects throughout the U.S., Canada, Finland and Spain.
The company announced the plans Wednesday afternoon, saying it aims to decarbonize business operations and reach net-zero carbon by 2040.
According to a map of planned renewable energy projects released by the company, Amazon is planning two Arkansas arrays to come online by 2023 — a 135-megawatt solar farm called Apple Blossom in Cross County and a 120-megawatt farm called Big Cypress in Crittenden County.
Cross County Judge Donnie Sanders said Thursday morning that he was not aware of Amazon’s plans for a solar farm there, and Crittenden County Judge Woody Wheeless did not immediately return a phone call from Arkansas Business.
The two solar farms are among other solar and wind projects Amazon plans for 11 states, including Arkansas and Mississippi. The company said the projects will supply renewable energy for its corporate offices, Amazon Web Services data centers and fulfillment centers, where it sorts and processes customer orders.
In central Arkansas, Amazon is prepping an 825,000-SF fulfillment center at the Little Rock Port and a 1 million-SF non-sortable center near the Galloway exit in North Little Rock. The port facility will employ more than 1,000 full-time workers; the North Little Rock operation will create around 500 jobs. Amazon also has delivery centers in Maumelle and along Interstate 30 in Little Rock.
In Mississippi, Amazon is planning a 175-megawatt solar farm in Scott County projected to come online in 2024. Amazon announced in November that it would open a third fulfillment center there, the first to feature Amazon’s robotics technology. Employees in Canton, Mississippi, will work alongside robots packing and shipping books, toys and household items. The center will employ more than 1,000 full-time workers, the company said.
Amazon is among major global corporations looking to reduce their carbon footprints. It aims to power 100% of its activities with renewable energy by 2025, which would be five years ahead of its original target, and reach net-zero carbon by 2040, which would 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement. It said Wednesday that it is the top corporate buyer of renewable energy in the country, with 10 gigawatts of renewable electricity production capacity — “enough to power 2.5 million U.S. homes.”
Earlier this month, Tyson Foods Inc. of Springdale announced a plan to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its global operations and supply chain by 2050.
Amazon rival Walmart Inc. of Bentonville aims to eliminate emissions from its operations and hit other climate goals by 2030.
(Sarah Campbell-Miller and The Associated Press contributed to this story.)
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