Its energy unit has entered into a long-term power purchase agreement with NextEra Energy Inc for the next 20 years.

As of July 30 Google Energy is using 114 megawatts of clean, renewable energy from NextEra Energy Resources’ Story II Wind Energy Center in Story and Hardin counties in Iowa. It generates enough power for over 55,000 homes.

Mike O’Sullivan, senior vice president of development for NextEra Energy Resources, said, “With the support of customers like Google Energy, we’ve built our wind fleet from fewer than 500 megawatts a decade ago to more than 7,600 megawatts – the largest fleet in North America today.”

The remaining 36 megawatts from the Story II Wind Energy Center are currently being sold to the city of Ames, Iowa. NextEra Energy Resources now has more than 9,000 wind turbines in operation at 77 wind farms in 17 states and Canada.

Less than three months ago the search company also invested $38.8 million in two wind farms in North Dakota, developed by NextEra Energy Resources.

Google Energy was formed in December 2009 and allows the company to buy large volumes of renewable energy from the wholesale power market.

"Incorporating such a large amount of wind power into our portfolio is tricky, but this power is enough to supply several data centers," said Urs Hoelzle, Google's senior vice president of operations.

Google is keen on addressing climate change issues and uses its Google.org sister organisation for this purpose. In 2007 it made the decision to become carbon neutral and committed to invest in research and development to produce renewable energy at a price cheaper than burning coal within a few years - its 'RE<C' project.

Google has also been an early and strong supporter of AB32, legislation in California that creates jobs and spurs the development of clean energy technologies. Last year, California's policies attracted 60% of all cleantech investment capital in North America - $2.1 billion.

> www.nexteraenergyresources.com
> www.google.org/rec.html
> http://tinyurl.com/3472nb8