PAOLO ALTO — Apple is expanding its environmental efforts by investing in a new Chinese solar power project and preserving 36,000 acres of “sustainable” timberland in Maine and North Carolina. The initiatives come as the tech giant this year met a self-imposed goal of powering all its US operations with renewable energy to reduce carbon emissions — initiatives that have won high marks from environmental groups like Greenpeace. On Thursday, Apple announced a new focus on using paper from trees harvested under environmentally sound conditions. It's also promising to use more renewable power overseas, where Apple relies heavily on contract manufacturers — and where a top executive acknowledged the company can do more. The new solar project in China has a capacity of 40 megawatts, which is smaller than some projects Apple has announced in US. — AP
