- Google signs 20-year deal with DTE Energy to produce 2.7GW of clean energy
- The data center will only use 1GW; 1.7GW are designed for nearby communities.
- $10M Google Energy Impact Fund Will Also Help Locals Improve Energy Efficiency
Google has confirmed that the company has signed a new data center deal in Michigan, partnering with the state’s DTE Energy, and that there are much broader implications for the local economy and sustainability.
As part of the agreement, Google will finance 2.7 GW of new clean energy capacity across the 20-year contract, including a combination of solar and battery storage.
Google will also help improve network flexibility and demand response systems, hoping to reduce the impact of its data center on local homes and businesses.
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Google’s data center in Michigan will help modernize the network
“As part of this announcement, Google is introducing a $10 million Energy Impact Fund to scale and accelerate energy affordability initiatives that are designed to reduce monthly bills for communities in Michigan,” wrote Will Conkling, the company’s director of Clean Energy and Energy Americas.
This includes “home weatherization, efficiency technology innovations for homes, and energy workforce development projects.” The company will also cover costs associated with upgrading infrastructure and supplying electricity to the new data center campus.
With the data center expected to use 1 GW, this is one of the largest clean energy data center projects of its kind: the 2.7 GW plans will almost triple Google’s expected usage, supporting the state (which has traditionally relied heavily on coal) with cleaner sources.
The company has not yet confirmed the location of its site, but is currently evaluating a site in Van Buren Township, a western suburb of Detroit.
More broadly, Microsoft is also considering a data center site at Covenant Business Park in Lowell, according to an update from the township.
Google’s data center could come online in late 2027 or 2028.
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