Apple Inc. (NSQ:AAPL) said it plans to build a new solar farm with NV Energy Inc (NYS:NVE) for power supply to its new data center in Reno, Nevada, a major step towards its goal of having its data centers run on renewable energy.

Apple will construct 18-megawatt photovoltaic solar plant east of Reno, in Yerington, Nevada, known as Fort Churchill Solar Array. Apple's plan to power its data center with 100% renewable energy.

The new solar farm will provide power to Sierra Pacific Power Co's electric grid that serves Apple's data center and when completed will generate about hours 43.5 million kilowatt of clean energy a year, Apple said in a statement.

Apple already runs its largest data center in the U.S. on solar power. The center in Maiden, North Carolina produces 167 million kilowatt hours, the power equivalent of 17,600 homes for one year, from a 100-acre solar farm and fuel cell installations provided by Silicon Valley startup Bloom Energy.

Read press release, Apple plans Nevada solar farm in clean energy push for data centers

Apple unveils 18-megawatt solar farm to power cloud data center from Network World