Google signed a contract with MidAmerican Energy to supply its new Council Bluffs, Iowa, data center with up to 407 MW of wind energy, as tracked by renewable energy certificates (RECs). This agreement covers not only its current facilities but will allow for future expansion as well.
This is Google’s seventh and largest renewable energy commitment to date, bringing the total amount of renewable energy it's contracted for to over 1 GW, according to the company’s corporate blog.
“We’ve entered into a few different kinds of agreements over the years - sometimes signing power purchase agreements (PPAs) with wind farm developers and sometimes working with our local utility partners,” states the blog. “In this case, MidAmerican Energy will sell energy to our Iowa data center bundled with and tracked by renewable energy certificates generated by projects that are part of its Wind VIII program.”
Google’s Council Bluffs, Iowa, data center (pictured) has also achieved ISO 50001 certification.
