Google’s biggest clean power project is 40 miles north of xAI’s unpermitted gas power plant
Google has invested in a massive solar and battery storage project in Arkansas to power its data centers with clean energy. This initiative is contrasted with xAI's use of unpermitted natural gas turbines in Mississippi, which has drawn criticism for environmental and social impacts.
Why it matters
The comparison highlights the diverging energy strategies of major tech companies and the growing scrutiny of the environmental footprint of AI infrastructure.
Google said it has made its largest solar power and battery storage purchase to date. The first two phases of the project, located in Arkansas, will generate enough electricity to power about 6% of the state’s peak demand , the company said earlier this week.
Electricity from the project will flow directly to the grid, offsetting demand from Google’s data centers. Google is both investing in the project alongside developer Cypress Creek Energy and purchasing the entire output of the first two phases, adding 1 gigawatt of solar capacity and 1.9 gigawatt-hours of battery storage to its portfolio.
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