Texas wind farm gets $200 million from Google
Large wind farms can increase night time temperatures and alter local climates, new research shows.
Google bought a $200 million stake in a West Texas wind farm it says produces enough electricity to light up 60,000 homes.
Spinning Spur Wind Project, in the Texas Panhandle, is a 161-megawatt facility built by EDF Renewable Energy, reports Bloomberg.
The farms 70 turbines began spinning full time at the end of 2012 and the power is distributed through SPS, a utility company that serves mainly Texas and New Mexico, reports CNET.
Kojo Ako-Asare, Google's senior manager of corporate finances said in a blog post that wind farms offer "attractive returns relative to risks".
"We look for projects like Spinning Spur because, in addition to creating more renewable energy and strengthening the local economy, they also make for smart investments, Ako-Asare said.
Google has been making a number of investments in renewable energy companies since 2010. Altogether, the tech giant has invested $1 billion in renewable energy, reports CNN.
The Spinning Spur project will be Google's second most expensive project behind a $280 million stake the company bought in solar panel maker, SolarCity.
"Altogether," Google says, "the renewable energy projects we've invested in are capable of generating 2 gigawatts of power."