Google Locks In 1.2 GW of Clean Energy for Data Centers

The tech giant behind your favorite search engine just made one of its biggest climate commitments yet, securing enough carbon-free electricity to match the needs of a small city.

Google signed long-term agreements with Clearway Energy Group to buy nearly 1.2 gigawatts of clean energy from new wind and solar farms across three states. The power will flow into the same regional grids that keep Google's massive data centers running 24/7.

The deal represents more than $2.4 billion in new clean energy infrastructure. Construction starts soon, with the first solar panels and wind turbines expected to spin up in 2027 and 2028.

Amanda Peterson Corio, who leads data center energy strategy at Google, says the move does double duty. "Strengthening the grid by deploying more reliable and clean energy is crucial for supporting the digital infrastructure that businesses and individuals depend on," she explained.

The projects will deliver electricity to three major grid systems: SPP in the Midwest, ERCOT in Texas, and PJM covering the Mid-Atlantic and parts of the South. A 71.5 megawatt facility in West Virginia pushes the total package to about 1.24 gigawatts of clean power.

Here's how it works: Google commits to buying the energy these new projects produce over many years. That guaranteed income lets Clearway secure financing and actually build the wind and solar farms. The clean electricity then flows into regional grids, reducing the need for fossil fuel plants.

The Ripple Effect

This partnership does more than just green Google's operations. When tech companies invest billions in new clean energy projects, they're essentially building power plants that entire communities benefit from.

Every megawatt of solar and wind added to the grid means less coal and natural gas burned overall. That cleaner air benefits everyone breathing it, not just the company writing the checks.

The timing matters too. Data centers are growing fast as artificial intelligence and cloud computing expand. By locking in clean power now, Google is proving that even energy-hungry tech can run on sunshine and wind.

Local economies in Missouri, Texas, and West Virginia will see construction jobs, ongoing maintenance work, and new tax revenue from the facilities. Clean energy projects often become long-term community anchors in rural areas.

The scale is genuinely impressive: 1.2 gigawatts could power roughly one million average American homes for a year. Instead, it'll keep servers humming and your emails flowing without the carbon footprint.

This is what climate progress looks like in practice: massive investments, multi-year timelines, and infrastructure that outlasts the news cycle.