AT&T is continuing its push towards a sustainable future, as it signs an agreement with DSD Renewables to serve as an anchor tenant subscriber for a five-project community solar portfolio in Upstate New York. The deal will see AT&T offtake 15.5 MW of the larger 24.1 MW portfolio, which is expected to generate 17.4 GWh of clean energy annually.
The community solar sites are located in Cortland, East Syracuse, Medina, Utica, and Swan Lake. Four of the five sites are under construction, with the last project expected to start construction later this year.
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“We strongly believe that corporations can play a key role in helping power the communities they serve, and this agreement is one way for AT&T to do just that,” said Shannon Thomas Carroll, AVP of Global Environmental Sustainability at AT&T. “It's a win-win for AT&T and the people we serve.”
The move is a step forward for AT&T's commitment to being carbon neutral across its entire global operations by 2035. “These projects offer a socially conscious and innovative way for large corporations like AT&T to reduce their carbon footprint while making a positive impact in the communities where they operate,” said Sarah Moon, Senior Director of Community Solar at DSD.
AT&T's subscription to these five projects is projected to offset approximately 61 percent of annual energy use. By continuing to support community solar programmes, the company is able to help create cost-effective solutions that benefit big corporations and residents alike, providing clean, affordable energy to local communities.
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“As the largest corporate buyer of renewable energy in the country, we are committed to driving renewable energy forward,” said Carroll. “By working together with developers like DSD, we're able to explore solutions outside of on-site renewables that can help us reduce environmental impacts while also supporting local communities by making solar programmes more accessible.”
