Google Energy: Being the Change In the World

Grammy winning pop artist and renowned playboy John Mayer wrote the song “Waiting on the World to Change” and was a commercial success because it resonated with what many Americans are feeling or doing in their daily life. They don’t feel they have control over decisions being made politically, locally at their jobs and to keep it relevant, with their energy bill. And while strumming to the beat of John Mayer’s guitar they tag their email signature or Facebook status with a quote from Ghandi “Be the Change you want to see in the world”.

Google listened and it has just trumpeted the world’s loudest wake up call to Americans and American Business. Welcome to the world of Google Energy. Google Energy is now fully authorized to buy and sell energy at market rates.

Now the first thing that comes to mind is “am I going to be able to buy power from Google?” Not exactly…

Google is on a mission to be able to supply their offices and data centers with the highest quality and most affordable renewable energy they possibly can. By becoming a registered utility Google now has access to Transmission lines, wholesale energy rates and energy brokerage capabilities.

Google Energy can now develop a wind or solar farm and be granted access to transmission lines as a utility, sell that energy to Google itself and control the rates of its data centers all completely regulated through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

But why is this SO important?

Google Energy has just proven to all of American business that if you are big enough, consume enough energy and have the right technology, you can make financial sense of starting your own “utility”. Being in the business of developing your own “Utility Type” company to develop renewable energy properties to sell energy back to your business entity is the first massive step to a Distributed Renewable Energy Generation.

Expect Google Energy to be followed by the possible likes of, GM Energy, Toyota Energy, Pfizer Energy or maybe even WalMart Energy. Why would these huge consumers of Energy NOT follow in Google footsteps in leasing land, developing energy property and then trading the electricity through the grid to offset their energy bills for their stores, 100 story office buildings or dealerships all while enjoying huge tax credits from the Federal government? This is not a new idea for Google, they have had a long standing goal to be carbon neutral as well as to create renewable energy cheaper than coal (RE>C).

If you’re “Waiting on the World to Change”, watch as businesses follow Google and Google Energy into the renewable energy development and utility trading business. When the Federal Government gets around to signing an energy bill your local utility company may quickly start to offer a rebate for the installation of solar panels on your home, take a second look at what they are offering you, maybe, just maybe Google or one of its possible followers may have a better offer for you.