As we expand our infrastructure in Arizona to meet the growing demand for Google products and services, sustainability remains a top priority. Recently, we began constructing our first data center in Mesa, Arizona, which will utilize air-cooled technology to minimize environmental impact on water and energy resources. Today, we are proud to announce a new energy supply agreement with Salt River Project (SRP) to support over 430 megawatts of new carbon-free energy capacity in Arizona. This agreement will help our operations in the state achieve at least 80% carbon-free energy (CFE) by 2026.
Boosting Carbon-Free Energy in Arizona
The agreement involves a combination of wind power, solar energy, and battery storage from three facilities operated by NextEra Energy Resources on SRP’s power grid in Arizona. Achieving 80% CFE for our Mesa data center is a crucial step as we aim to power our entire business with 24/7 CFE by 2030.
By actively adding carbon-free energy capacity to Arizona’s grid, we are not just offsetting our energy consumption but also contributing to the transition towards cleaner energy sources. This collaboration with SRP and NextEra Energy Resources is driving decarbonization in Arizona and advancing our own carbon-free journey in the region. Shifting from fossil fuels to carbon-free energy is essential in combating the climate crisis and ensuring access to clean, affordable energy.
Supporting Mesa’s Community
Community support is a key focus for us. In addition to bringing clean energy to Arizona, we are involved in projects such as tree planting and promoting higher education.
Planting trees in communities offers various benefits, from reducing energy bills and urban heat to supporting local food production and biodiversity. Through our partnership with Mesa’s Shade Tree Program, we are funding tree-planting workshops to add 600 new trees annually.
To facilitate access to higher education, we have contributed $100,000 to the Mesa College Promise, a program that offers free tuition and support services for two years to qualified high school students and adult learners in Mesa.
Continuing Our Efforts
The Mesa data center is set to be operational by 2025, but our commitment goes beyond this. We will work closely with SRP to decarbonize the grid, support local initiatives, and contribute to the overall economic growth in the area.
For more information on Google data centers, visit google.com/datacenters. To explore our sustainability efforts, visit sustainability.google.
