There are few well-recognized names and reputations in business like Google. The tech industry giant has permanently left its mark with its search engine, and has dominated the world of email and mobile technology. But as of late, its Google’s commitment to the environment that we just can’t get enough of.
Beginning in 2007, Google made a pledge to invest in technology that could contribute to the advancement of green initiatives in the United States. But in 2008 and 2009 when the financial crisis struck, progress slowed showing that even giants like Google were affected by the downturn. That being said, unlike many who were slow to return to renewable energy investments or didn’t return at all, Google came back as soon as it could and picked back up right where it left off.
Just this past April, Google announced investments totaling more than $250 million in renewable energy projects. The first was a $168 million investment in BrightSource Energy’s solar energy complex in California. Two weeks later, another $100 million was pledged to the Shepard’s Flat wind farm project off the coast of Oregon. The wind farm is currently the world’s largest of its kind under construction and will be able to produce incredible amounts of energy from the 2.5 megawatt turbines being used, none of which have ever been used in the U.S. before.
As you may know, Google has a knack for making good investments. The heavyweight knows that advancement in renewable technologies will yield much higher rewards down the road. As a major consumer of power to run its data centers, Google is banking on these investments not only providing solid ROI but spurring innovation in the renewable energy sector in efforts to power our world outside of coal.
We know it won’t happen overnight (and so does Google), but as more superpowers in the business world continue to invest and promote a switch to renewable energy, the more we’ll all be able to get out and give back to the planet.