Visa's NoVA Data Center To Run On Renewable Energy

NORTHERN VIRGINIA — Visa has entered a multi-year energy agreement with MP2 Energy LLC to power the company's data center in Northern Virginia with 100 percent renewable energy.

The data center is Visa’s largest and accounts for more than one-third of the company’s global electricity usage.

In January 2020, Visa, a global payments company, announced completion of its goal to transition to 100 percent renewable electricity for its offices and data centers through a combination of enrollments in utility and other renewable programs and the purchase of renewable energy certificates.

The agreement with MP2 Energy, a subsidiary of Shell Energy North America (US) L.P., represents the next phase in Visa’s efforts by supporting the addition of new renewable energy projects to the electric power grid.

“The agreement with MP2 Energy contributes to Visa’s climate action agenda, supports new renewable energy generation across the commonwealth of Virginia, and contributes to a positive impact on the environment and local economic development," Douglas Sabo, chief sustainability officer of Visa, said in a statement.

MP2 Energy will purchase the renewable energy certificates, or RECs, from solar projects in the state. Visa expects to begin using the solar energy to power its data center in Northern Virginia starting in February 2023.

“I applaud Visa’s commitment to reduce the climate impact of their global operations and to support renewable energy generation across Virginia through their new agreement with MP2 Energy,” U.S. Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) said Wednesday in a statement. “Virginia is committed to our clean energy agenda. The Visa agreement brings new renewable energy generation to our commonwealth, stimulating economic development and protecting our environment for future generations.”

The electricity generated by the projects and Visa’s purchase of associated project renewable energy certificates, or RECs, will replace a portion of Visa’s purchases of RECs, which the company made to help reach its commitment to transition to 100 percent renewable electricity by 2020.

The RECs associated with the renewable power for this agreement will come from NextEnergy Capital Virginia’s Briel Farm in Henrico County and Gardy’s Mill solar assets in Westmoreland County. The RECs also will come from Caden Energix’s Hickory solar project in Chesapeake, the Rives Road solar project in Prince George County, and the Pamplin solar project in Appomattox County.