| nd Rock, Texas headquarters of Dell has recently | | | | than 100 of these vertical extraction wells and 2100 |
| converted to 100 percent renewable energy. The 2.1 | | | | feet of horizontal wells. |
| million square foot building completed its conversion | | | | Dell is a member of the Austin Energy Green Choice |
| and made the announcement on April 3rd. Dell's global | | | | power program. This program has thrived in becoming |
| headquarters campus has utilized thetechnology of | | | | the United State's most successful utility-sponsored |
| wind power at the building, and 60 percent of its | | | | green power program, providing electricity that comes |
| energy is now derived from this. The wind power is | | | | from clean, renewal sources. |
| generated Energy Future Holding Corp's TXU Energy. | | | | In addition to the green power that is being completely |
| The other 40 percent of Dell's green power is made | | | | utilized at the Round Rock, Texas location, Dell has |
| possible via Waste Management's landfill gas to | | | | also increased, from 8 percent to 17 percent, its |
| energy plant. | | | | renewal energy at the Austin Parmer Campus. Its |
| Waste Management has an ongoing national effort to | | | | Twin Falls, Idaho call center is also at 100 percent |
| erect 60 new renewable energy facilities over the | | | | green energy - 97 percent of this location drawn from |
| span of the next 5 years. The energy that Waste | | | | wind and the other 3 percent coming from solar |
| Management currently creates is enough to power 1 | | | | energy. |
| million homes. The hope is to double that number by | | | | President Paul Bell has the following to say to other |
| 2020. Don Smith, the general manager of Waste | | | | technology firms, "It's time for our industry to take a |
| Management Central Texas says, "Taking landfill gas | | | | lead role in creating a clean energy future. Today, we |
| and converting it to green power is a buried treasure | | | | are challenging every technology company to work |
| for the community. We take a once-wasted | | | | with their suppliers and partners in integrating green |
| commodity and turn it into a long-term, reliable source | | | | power and energy-efficient strategies into their |
| of renewable energy, which is a major environmental | | | | operations." For companies who are leery to convert |
| plus for the Austin community and one of its major | | | | to green energy, Bell asserts, "We're using green |
| employers, Dell." | | | | technology to drive operating expense down." |
| For those who are interested in the mechanics, here is | | | | It would seem that Dell is coming closer and closer to |
| how the plan succeeds in acquiring the energy: A | | | | its plan announced last fall to go carbon neutral in 2008. |
| network of pipes and wells are drilled into the | | | | Other companies may realize by following in the |
| landscape. Then, a vacuum system pulls the gas | | | | footsteps of Dell that, not only would similar plans |
| (mostly methane) from the landfill. This is then sent to | | | | benefit communities and the overall health of the |
| the power plant, fueling the engines that allow the | | | | nation, it would have many financial advantages to the |
| generators to create the electricity. There are more | | | | company itself. |