Google backs California wind farm with $55 million
The Alta Wind Energy Center in Kern County, one of the largest wind farms in the world, just landed a hot new financier: Google.
The Internet search giant is partnering with Citibank to each spend $55 million to buy part of the installation. When complete, Alta will generate 1.5 gigawatts, enough to power 450,000 homes through Southern California Edison.
Located in the Mojave Desert foothills, a growing hotbed for wind power, the first five segments of the Alta project are already online and generating 720 megawatts of energy. Developers expect another 300 megawatts in the can by the end of the year.
In a move that is popular in the solar industry, Google and Citibank will lease the fourth portion, known as Alta IV, back to developer Terra-Gen to operate.
Google has now funneled more than $400 million into clean energy projects including solar and electric vehicle ventures.
RELATED:
Google works on electric vehicle charging, invests $100 million in wind farm
Wind farm 'mega-project' underway in Mojave Desert
-- Tiffany Hsu
Photo: Paul Sakuma / Associated Press
"When complete, Alta will generate 1.5 gigawatts, enough to power 450,000 homes," which means when it is complete and the wind is blowing. How much is it actually going to generate on an averaged basis? Probably less than half a gigawatt. This is an incomplete article and is a disservice to a "news" paper.
Posted by: Gary A | May 25, 2011 at 03:15 AM
Great Scott--1.5 Gigawatts! More than enough to power a flux capacitor!
Posted by: hb | May 24, 2011 at 02:20 PM