Google’s 14th Sustainability Investment Might be Powering a Home Near You

2014.02.05

google-invest-in-solar-plantsRemember, last month, when we posted about Israel’s giant solar plant? Well, Google wants to get in on the renewable resource fun and is investing some major cash into new solar plants to power homes in the United States. They’re starting with electricity for 17,000 homes, but we’re hoping that they don’t stop there and that eventually entire cities will be powered by the sun!

Mashable’s Todd Wasserman gives us the nuts and bolts of the news:

“Google is investing $80 million in six new solar plants in California and Arizona that the company says will provide enough electricity for 17,000 homes in the United States.

The investment is Google’s 14th in renewable energy. The company has so far put more than $1 billion behind solar and wind projects since April 2010. Google is partnering with investment firm KKR for the venture; the lead developer is Recurrent Energy.

According to a Google blog post, the projects have a combined capacity of 106 megawatts. A typical coal power station produces 600 to 700 megawatts while a nuclear power plant puts out 900 to 1,300 megawatts.

Google currently gets 33% of its energy from renewable sources, but hopes to be 100% renewable at some point.”

As the company wrote on The Google Blog, “These investments are all part of our drive toward a clean energy future—where renewable energy is abundant, accessible and affordable. By continuing to invest in renewable energy projects, purchasing clean energy for our operations and working with our utility partners to create new options for ourselves and for other companies interest in buying renewable energy, we’re working hard to make that future a reality.”

If you liked this post, you might be interested in the one we referenced at the beginning of this article: “Israel’s New Solar Station is Big – Really Big”

Picture from: switched.com


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