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Apple’s next big innovation? Turning trash into electricity

Apple is building a power plant in North Carolina which will will help it turn methane gas extracted from landfill sites and convert it into electricity.

The firm’s latest environmentally-friendly move is a win-win. It’ll prevent harmful the greenhouse gas being released into the atmosphere while generating renewable power.

The agreement with Catawba County will last for the next 16 years with the option of a 5-year extension (via 9to5Mac).

A spokesperson for the county said this was ‘the next great energy source that is clean and safe for citizens across the entire country.’

Related: Want to see the iPhone 7? This is the best effort yet

The news comes just a day Apple received permission to begin selling electricity back to power companies in the US. The Apple Energy LLC will sell off the excess energy generated by its solar farms.

Recent filings have suggested Apple may have ambitions to eventually sell off this naturally produced energy to homes around the US.

That would allow Apple fans to download Apple apps, on Apple devices using Apple Energy.

Perhaps the company also plans to use its abundance of energy to provide charging stations for its rumoured Apple Car EV?

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