Google Launches Major Clean Energy Project Just 40 Miles from xAI’s Unlicensed Gas Power Plant

Google has revealed its largest solar power and battery storage acquisition to date. The first two phases of this project, located in Arkansas, are projected to generate sufficient electricity to meet around 6% of the state’s peak power demand, as announced by the company earlier this week.

The electricity produced from this initiative will be fed directly into the grid, which will help reduce the energy consumption of Google’s data centers. In partnership with developer Cypress Creek Energy, Google is investing in this project and is acquiring the entire output from the first two phases, which will contribute 1 gigawatt of solar capacity and 1.9 gigawatt-hours of battery storage to its assets.

Once completed, this three-phase project is expected to become the largest solar facility in the United States, according to the companies involved. The final phase is scheduled to connect to the grid by 2029, boosting the power plant’s total capacity to around 1.8 gigawatts of solar energy and 2.9 gigawatt-hours of battery storage. Cypress Creek has obtained $3.5 billion in funding to support the first two phases.

Known as the Steel River Energy Center, the facility will be situated about 30 miles north of Memphis, Tennessee. By merging solar panels with extensive battery storage, the power plant aims to ensure a reliable power supply to the grid continuously. This venture will help Google align its electricity use with clean energy on an hourly basis, a challenging requirement that could encourage the adoption of more hybrid power plants onto the grid.

Google’s approach to investing in a major solar and battery facility stands in stark contrast to xAI, which runs an unpermitted natural gas power plant located roughly 40 miles to the south.

Elon Musk has heavily funded natural gas operations for xAI’s Colossus data centers, despite also leading Tesla, a firm that produces solar panels and large-scale batteries. According to Reuters reports, xAI is operating nearly 60 natural gas turbines without the required federal clean air permits. The emissions from xAI’s Mississippi power plant seem to adversely impact mostly Black communities.

Musk shows no indication of changing his course, having recently acquired APR Energy, a company that focuses on modular natural gas power plants.

Google has also invested in natural gas, collaborating with Crusoe to set up a 933-megawatt power plant in West Texas. Nonetheless, this project is somewhat of an anomaly for the company, which mainly seeks to grow its portfolio through clean energy avenues. With the swift deployment capacity of initiatives like Steel River—nearly 2 gigawatts of solar capacity within three years—it’s probable that Google will maintain its focus on renewable energy and battery solutions.