Google buys into California solar plants

Written by Morgan Lee
12:30 p.m., Dec. 20, 2011



Internet search giant Google has purchased a stake in four solar photovoltaic power plants in the Sacramento area in a partnership with a private equity fund.

The $189 million combined venture with Kohlberg Kravis Roberts represents Google's entry into utility-scale photovoltaic power.

The deal made an outsized splash among renewable-energy industry watchers on Tuesday.
  • The Wall Street Journal says it shows investor interest in the industry amid expiring government incentives.
  • Forbes blogger Todd Woody provides a rundown of google's previous ventures into solar thermal power plants, wind farms and, more recently, the financing of residential rooftop solar arrays.
  • Google has expressed disappointment that it cannot buy more renewable electricity for its power-hungry data centers and wants to help renewable power expand in scale.
The four solar facilities, which use the same silicon technology as most rooftop solar arrays, will provide the Sacramento Municipal Utility District with enough energy to offset the electricity consumption of 13,000 average U.S. homes.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2...-solar-plants/