Google announces new renewable energy initiative

PanARMENIAN.Net - Google on Friday, April 19 announced a new renewable initiative that would see utilities offer renewable energy power for sale to companies. The company not only outlined its vision for the initiative, but it has put its money where its mouth is by announcing to start with an expansion of its Lenoir, N.C. data center, The Next Web reports.

Google has convinced its local electricity provider, Duke Energy, to pledge the development of a new program for large companies that want to buy renewable power for their operations. Duke will be filing its plan with their state commission within 90 days.

Google believes working directly with utility partners will help in finding solutions that will make more renewable energy available not for just itself but for other firms as well. Most utilities currently do not offer a renewable energy option, so that’s what Google is aiming to change.

Google’s reasoning is as follows: “Offering companies like Google a renewable energy option has many advantages. Because the service is made available to a wide range of customers, companies that don’t have the ability or resources to pursue alternative approaches can participate. And by tapping utilities’ strengths in power generation and delivery, it makes it easier for companies to buy renewable energy on a larger scale. Of course, the approach is not without its challenges: utilities will need to work out the mechanics of the service within their local regulatory structure, and in many cases state utility commissions will need to approve the programs. There’s also the challenge of finding cost-effective renewable projects.”

Google notes this is part of a broader push by the company. It has so far committed more than $1 billion to renewable energy project investments, signed agreements to procure wind power near its data centers, and installed solar panels at its corporate headquarters, TNW says.