US renewables developer Apex Clean Energy has signed two wind power purchase agreements (PPA) with McDonald’s totalling 326MW.
McDonald’s will purchase 200MW from Caddo wind farm, located in Caddo County, Oklahoma, and 126MW from Lincoln Land wind farm, located in Morgan County, Illinois.
Caddo is expected to be operational in late 2021.
Lincoln Land Wind is under development by Apex and is expected to begin commercial operations in late 2021.
The project, including another corporate PPA announced earlier in 2020, is fully contracted.
The newly announced PPAs build on MacDonald’s previous purchase of 220MW from Apex-developed Aviator Wind West, located in Coke County, Texas.
Aviator Wind, owned by Consumers Energy, Kansai Electric, and Ares Management Corporation’s Infrastructure and Power, commenced operations in September 2020.
Combined, the 546MW of total clean power purchases position McDonald’s as Apex’s largest single offtake entity and corporate buyer.
Apex Clean Energy CEO Mark Goodwin said: “Apex is thrilled to be a long-term partner of McDonald’s in its efforts to leverage its scale to create a healthier planet for generations to come.
“These agreements signify McDonald’s rising leadership in clean energy investment and its dedication to fostering resilient and sustainable communities.
“Across America, hundreds of rural towns and counties are being transformed through jobs and economic benefits delivered by renewable energy projects, and they are poised to rebound from recent economic insecurity stronger than before.”
McDonald’s North American sustainability director Emma Cox added: “As one of the world’s largest restaurant companies, McDonald’s is uniquely positioned to catalyse action around climate change.
“Our renewable energy projects with Apex will directly and immediately touch the lives of those living within these local communities and will also play a key role in how we feed and foster communities across the globe.”
The 303MW Caddo wind project was developed by Apex and sold to Allete Clean Energy in March 2020.
Caddo Wind represents the second transaction between the two companies, following the 2019 sale of the 303MW Diamond Spring Wind, which is also located in Oklahoma and came online in 2020.
Across both projects, Apex and Allete Clean Energy have delivered PPAs totalling more than 600MW with six different corporate off takers.
Together, Apex and Allete Clean Energy negotiated the Caddo PPA and are working to complete development and construction of the project.