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- Accelerating Clean Energy Development: The partnership aims to build co-located clean energy plants and data centers, reducing grid strain and improving sustainability.
- AI and Economic Growth: Aligning digital infrastructure with clean power supports U.S. leadership in AI and an estimated trillion-dollar GDP uplift by 2030.
- Faster Project Timelines: The “power-first” approach shortens the time from proposal to operation and enhances grid reliability.
Google, Intersect Power, and TPG Rise Climate have announced a groundbreaking partnership to align clean energy generation with data center development. The collaboration introduces a “power-first” approach, co-locating carbon-free energy projects and data centers to meet AI’s growing energy demands while reducing grid strain.
Driving U.S. Leadership in AI and Sustainability
The partnership responds to the dual challenge of decarbonization and digitization, both critical for U.S. economic leadership. As AI development accelerates, reliable and sustainable energy capacity becomes essential to realize its potential in sectors like healthcare, education, and manufacturing.
Jim Coulter, Executive Chairman of TPG Commneted “The convergence of two megatrends — decarbonization and digitization — is creating unique opportunities for innovative partnerships. We are committed to delivering carbon-free data centers at lower cost and greater scale.”
Economists project AI-driven economic growth could add over $1 trillion annually to the U.S. GDP by 2030. Coupled with the onshoring of manufacturing and the electrification of key sectors, this partnership positions the U.S. as a leader in both AI and clean energy innovation.
Related Article: Schneider Electric and NVIDIA Unveil AI-Ready Solutions to Decarbonize Data Centers
Transforming Infrastructure Development
The “power-first” approach ensures that data centers are co-located with purpose-built clean energy projects, reducing the time to operation and enhancing grid stability. This strategy tackles the growing strain on U.S. electricity grids, where transmission bottlenecks have doubled project timelines over the last two decades.
Sheldon Kimber, CEO of Intersect Power, highlights the partnership’s impact:
“This partnership is an evolution of the way hyperscalers and power providers have previously worked together. It’s about meeting the explosion of AI growth while unlocking meaningful opportunities for rural economic development.“
Google’s role as an anchor tenant ensures that clean energy assets are financially viable while enabling co-located industrial parks that benefit both the grid and local communities.
A Model for Future Growth
The first co-located clean energy and data center project is expected to be operational by 2026, with full completion by 2027. This model offers:
- Streamlined Project Development: Tight integration of clean energy and digital infrastructure reduces delays and costs.
- Scalable Solutions: Designed for replication across U.S. and global markets.
- Rural Economic Impact: Creates jobs and supports local economies through industrial park development.
In 2023, U.S. grid constraints delayed critical projects, highlighting the urgency of such solutions. By aligning clean energy and data center timelines, this partnership sets a new standard for sustainable development.
Commitment to Community and Sustainability
Google, Intersect Power, and TPG Rise Climate are deeply invested in creating a greener, more efficient future. Their combined expertise ensures both environmental and economic benefits. Google’s data centers are among the most energy-efficient in the world, supporting services like Google Cloud, Search, and Maps that power businesses and individuals daily.
The collaboration also focuses on rural development, with projects that:
- Deliver clean energy capacity to underserved regions.
- Increase grid reliability for energy customers nationwide.
- Spur local economic growth through infrastructure investments.
By coupling cutting-edge technology with innovative energy solutions, the partnership lays the foundation for AI-driven economic growth that benefits all.
This initiative isn’t just about meeting current demands—it’s about creating a sustainable model for global adoption. Google, Intersect Power, and TPG Rise Climate are proving that innovation and sustainability can go hand in hand to build a better future.
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