Google has a 22-year energy independence plan for the U.S.
Posted by: in Employment opportunitiesFiled under: Management, Google (GOOG)
Google, Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) CEO Eric Schmidt has sung the praises of many things in the past: consumer experience, mobile product offerings and even Google’s philanthropic efforts. At the same time, Schmidt has made sure Google has evolved into a ruthless competitor that has really blindsided the internet marketplace in so many ways so fast that it caught most of us off-guard.
But can Google seriously save the world? Although tech pundits sometimes state that in tongue-in-cheek fashion, Schmidt is dead serious about it. Google’s massive global infrastructure requires a ton of energy to operate. As we all know, energy costs are not exactly low. Although newer Google data center sites are chosen partly for cheap energy proximity, that’s not enough. The company wants to fix the energy problem in the U.S., and they have a plan.
The “Clean Energy 2030” plan aims to relieve the U.S. completely from dependence on fossil fuels within 22 years. Schmidt indicated that the $4.5 trillion cost will be paid back with $5.5 trillion in savings. Schmidt told Cnet that “we save a lot of money when prices go down. It’s good for shareholders, good for earnings.” It’s not that Google is just in this for the savings, right? That’s your call to make.
Regardless, helping wean the U.S. from foreign energy sources is the holy grail for many bright minds in this country, including Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin. Schmidt continued by referencing the $700 billion bailout (it’s probably more than that by now), stating “why not use that money to solve once and for all the things we debate: energy security, rising oil prices, a lack of jobs–especially in rural areas–(and) a lack of technology investment?” We’ll be waiting today for the answer from some of the bright minds as well as pinheads in the U.S. government.
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