Google, Silicon Valley Tap Geothermal for Data-Center Power

June 18, 2024--Written by Paul Wiseman for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Data centers account for about 2% of U.S. power grid demand--and that number is expected to hit 9% as soon as 2030. Should that kind of load strain the grid, especially when added to the growing demand for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, it would be bad for all parties--people and businesses depending on it, and the data centers that are part of the demand growth. It is no surprise, then, that tech giants like Google parent Alphabet Incorporated (NASDAQ:GOOGL) (Mountain View, California) are looking to do two things: limit dependence on the grid, and to improve their carbon footprint and ESG scores. Other companies featured: NV Energy and Berkshire Hathaway Energy (NYSE:BRK.A)