Google is no stranger to renewable energy. Over the last several years, the tech giant has made numerous investments in solar and wind power, as well as experimental clean energy projects.
Google is currently powering over 34% of the company’s operations with renewable energy. Their goal is to use 100% renewable energy in the future.
Their latest purchase is the Happy Hereford wind farm outside of Amarillo, Texas, which produces 240-megawatts of power. Google’s total wind energy portfolio is now more than 570 MW, which is “enough energy to power approximately 170,000 U.S. households.”
The purchase will go through in late 2014 when Chermac Energy, the Native-American-owned company that is building it, finishes construction.
Google isn’t the only tech company that’s investing heavily in clean energy. Apple has also made a commitment “to power every facility entirely with energy from renewable sources — solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal.” They have already achieved 100% renewable energy at all five of their data centers. Apple’s corporate facilities aren’t far behind, operating at 75% renewable energy.