Data centers

Electrification

Data centers, bitcoin and EVs send utilities scrambling for more power

U.S. energy use has been flat, but bitcoin, data centers, and EVs are fueling a spike and threatening climate goals.

By Kristi Swartz, Pam Radtke, Floodlight . 19 March 2024
ENN

Bitcoin, data centers fuel energy spike, risking climate goals

U.S. energy use has been flat. But new industries are forcing a boost in utility forecasts for demand, potentially harming efforts to cut emissions.

By Pam Radtke and Kristi E. Swartz . 19 March 2024
Batteries

Utah developer quadruples battery storage to meet new electricity demand

As data centers and electrification increase power use across the country, it's a move that will likely become more common.

By Julian Spector . 18 March 2024
Virtual power plants

Four ways virtual power plants can help the US grid keep up with demand

States are starting to experiment with VPPs to boost clean energy capacity on America's overtaxed grid. Experts broke it down at SXSW in Austin.

By Maria Gallucci . 13 March 2024
Transmission

Suddenly, US electricity demand is spiking. Can the grid keep up?

Data centers, factories, heat pumps, and EVs are putting increasing stress on a grid that isn’t growing fast enough, new data shows.

By Jeff St. John . 20 December 2023
Geothermal

America's first 'enhanced' geothermal plant just got up and running

Next-generation geothermal could be a huge source of carbon-free power. A first-of-a-kind project from Google and Fervo Energy is a step in that direction.

By Maria Gallucci . 28 November 2023
Corporate procurement

Big companies seek new paths to deep grid decarbonization

GM, Meta, Walmart and other big clean-energy buyers launch new effort to look at transmission, virtual power plants and other tools beyond clean-energy contracts.

By Jeff St. John . 19 July 2023
Solar

Google’s latest climate plan? Skip grid backlog, mimic community solar

EDP Renewables and Google plan to spread a big solar buildout across 80 small projects, with 10% of revenue dedicated to environmental-justice benefits.

By Jeff St. John . 25 April 2023
Corporate procurement

Companies need a faster way to buy clean energy. Here’s a new solution

Big corporate wind and solar purchases can take over a year to complete. Google and LevelTen have come up with a way to shrink that down to 8 weeks.

By Jeff St. John . 10 April 2023
Energy efficiency

Google's huge solar buys help fund efficiency fixes for low-income homes

In partnership with Sol Systems, the tech giant is using a slice of its clean-energy investments for repairs and efficiency upgrades in lower-income communities.

By Jeff St. John . 8 March 2023