Apple’s massive data center in North Carolina could soon be powered by the sun. Reports say the company is building a solar farm next to its data center in Maiden, N.C. Permits show the company plans to reshape more than 170 acres of land near the center with a solar farm listed as the project for the property.

The Charlotte Observer reports the permit offered no detail about the solar farm plan called “Project Dolphin Solar Farm A Expanded.” Energy from the solar panels could be used to power the nearby data center. Officials say data centers typically require large amounts of power to run its servers and cooling system. The $1 billion dollar, 500,000 square foot data center in Maiden is painted white on its roof and sides in order to reflect the sun’s heat back into space.

Apple is already using sustainable energy including three Apple facilities in Texas, California and Ireland that are 100 percent powered by renewable energy. The company says the clean energy eliminates more than 21,000 tons of CO2 emissions.