Apple hires new director of renewable energy in green initiative push

As part of a more concerted — and public — effort to go "green," Apple has named former vice president of NV Energy Bobby Hollis as the company's Senior Renewable Energy Manager.

The hire, which was confirmed on Hollis' LinkedIn page, apparently took place earlier in April, though the exact date is unknown. According to Solar Electric Power Association Director of Research Mike Taylor, Apple's new energy director sat on SEPA's board of directors between leaving NVE and joining the company.

It is unclear what exactly Hollis will be working on at Apple, though he may answer to the company's global energy program leader Mike Petouhoff or head of environmental operations Lisa Jackson. Apple recently announced that 94 percent of all energy used by its data centers and corporate buildings comes from renewable energy sources like solar and bio-gas generators.

Apple went on an eco-friendly crusade in April with the launch of a new campaign dubbed "Better." Kicking off the effort was a commercial narrated by CEO Tim Cook that outlines Apple's current and future environmental aspirations for both the company and the world.

The ad debuted a day before Earth Day alongside a revamped environmental responsibility mini-site that features a letter from Jackson detailing Apple's renewable energy and recycling programs.

Jackson also took NBC's "Today" on a tour of Apple's Apple's Maiden, N.C. iCloud data center facility, including a rare look inside the main server building. Renewable energy in the form of solar and bio-gas power plants produce 100 percent of Maiden's needs.

To show support of Earth Day, Apple Stores around the world changed the color of the Apple logo's leaf portion green. Employees were also issued special green t-shirts and ID cards bearing the modified logo.