Although Greenpeace is reportedly pleased with recent progress in Apple’s attitude to clean energy, it still believes the company could implement several more important changes. The group has analyzed the iPhone maker’s efforts to lessen its dependency on coal-power and concluded that Apple has yet to outline a realistic plan to run its iCloud data facilities on cleaner energy alternatives. While the company was able to score only 15.2% in Greenpeace’s “Clean Energy Road Map” test in April, this summer the organization gave it a score of 22.6%.
In energy efficiency, energy transparency, renewable energy sourcing and infrastructure siting, Apple was graded C, D, C and D. In order to up this grade, the company has been recommended to go with a local renewable-power utility for its Oregon data center rather than purchasing clean energy credits. In order to clear Apple’s electricity supply chain of mountaintop coal removal operations, Greenpeace also suggested pressuring Duke Energy, which powers the company’s North Carolina-based cloud facility.
The California tech giant has claimed that its future data center in North Carolina will operate on 100% renewable energy by end of 2012. While praising the move, Greenpeace has steadily tried to draw public attention to the impact Apple’s production operations have on the surrounding environment. In the course of recent years, the group has staged protests at the company’s Cupertino headquarters and blocked coal-carrying trains demanding cleaner energy for Apple cloud facilities.
