Google Buys 1.2 GW Clean Energy for U.S. Data Centers

Google just locked in nearly 1.2 gigawatts of clean energy to power its data centers across the United States, enough electricity to supply hundreds of thousands of homes with zero carbon emissions.

The tech giant partnered with Clearway Energy to build new wind and solar projects in Missouri, Texas, and West Virginia. Construction starts this year, with the first renewable power flowing to local grids by 2027.

The agreement spans 20 years and represents more than $2.4 billion in infrastructure investment. These aren't just panels bolted onto existing facilities. These are entirely new clean energy projects that will strengthen regional power grids while cutting carbon.

Google has been on a mission to run entirely on carbon-free energy by 2030, matching every hour of electricity use with clean power in every location it operates. The company calls it "24/7 carbon-free energy," and it's far more ambitious than simply buying carbon offsets or renewable energy credits.

Since 2010, Google has signed over 170 agreements for more than 22 gigawatts of clean energy generation. That's roughly equivalent to the entire electricity generation capacity of Australia.

The timing matters. Data centers are growing rapidly as artificial intelligence and cloud computing demand more power. Critics worry about the environmental impact, but Google managed to reduce data center carbon emissions by 12% in 2024 despite increased energy use.

The Ripple Effect

These projects do more than keep Google's servers humming. They pump clean electricity into regional grids that power homes, schools, and businesses in Missouri, Texas, and West Virginia.

Local communities will see construction jobs now and permanent operational positions later. The projects connect to three major grid operators: SPP, ERCOT, and PJM, regions experiencing historic growth in electricity demand.

Amanda Peterson Corio, who leads Google's data center energy strategy, emphasized that strengthening grids with reliable clean energy supports the digital infrastructure everyone depends on. That means faster internet, better cloud services, and more resilient power systems for entire regions.

Clearway's Senior Vice President Valerie Wooley called it "speed to power at massive scale," exactly what's needed as digital infrastructure expands nationwide.

The message is clear: the companies driving our digital future can also drive our clean energy future.