Google Expands Support For Wind and Solar Power

By Michael Liedtke
Associated Press


Google Inc. is expanding into alternative energy in its most ambitious effort yet to ease the environmental strain caused by the companys voracious appetite for power to run its massive computing centers.

As part of a project just announced, the internet search leader and its philanthropic arm will put hundred of millions of dollars into a quest to lower the cost of producing electricity from renewable energy sources such as wind and the sun.

If Google realizes its goal, the cost of solar power should fall by 25% to 50%, co-founder Larry Page said in an interview.

"If we achieve these goals, we are going to be in the" electricity "business in a very big way," Page said. 

Google joins a long list of other prominent companies striving to become more environmentally friendly amid mounting concern that pollution from coal, oil and other so-called dirty power generation is causing potentially catastrophic climate change.

Googles headquarters already draws some of its power from one of the countrys biggest solar power installations.  Google intends to spend at least $20 million next year on renewable energy research.