Google has unveiled plans to develop a major new data center in Pine Island, Minnesota, alongside a large-scale clean energy package that includes wind, solar and long-duration battery storage, according to CNBC Africa.
The project will be powered through an agreement with Xcel Energy, under which Google will support the development of approximately 1,900 megawatts of new carbon-free energy capacity. The planned mix includes around 1,400 megawatts of wind, 200 megawatts of solar, and 300 megawatts of long-duration battery storage, expanding Minnesota’s renewable energy infrastructure while meeting the growing electricity demands of cloud and artificial intelligence operations.
As part of the arrangement, Google will contribute $50 million to Xcel Energy’s Capacity Connect program to strengthen grid reliability through distributed battery storage systems. The utility has indicated that the data center’s power needs will be met without increasing costs for existing customers, as Google will cover the necessary infrastructure investments under state regulatory guidelines, Investing.com reported.
The initiative reflects Google’s broader commitment to operating on carbon-free energy while scaling its digital infrastructure. Industry analysts say the combined data center and renewable energy build-out highlights the growing link between AI-driven computing demand and accelerated investment in clean power generation.
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