Enchanted Rock and U.S. Energy to supply Microsoft’s new CA data center with RNG emergency power

In Texas, Enchanted Rock and U.S. Energy announced a partnership to procure renewable natural gas (RNG) for Microsoft’s new data center in San Jose during grid outages and when California’s Base Interruptible Power (BIP) is activated. The data center will use Enchanted Rock’s electrical resiliency-as-a-service and ultra-low-emission generators to avoid disruptions to their operations.

The resiliency microgrid, utilizing carbon-neutral RNG, will ensure maximum uptime for Microsoft’s San Jose data center by providing reliable backup power during grid outages. U.S. Energy will deliver RNG sourced from diverted food waste that would have otherwise ended up in landfills. The RNG will be injected upstream in the pipeline to match natural gas usage at the site and reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions, supporting Microsoft’s goal to become carbon negative by 2030.

The agreement also allows for flexibility in the amount of RNG supplied, ensuring the data center is always able to meet its high standards for emissions reduction. And the clean microgrid will also result in 80%-96% lower local emissions than even the strictest EPA diesel standards, which decreases health impacts on nearby communities.