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Ovens & Ranges

Google Puts Power Behind $250 Million Solar Venture

It was a good week for Silicon Valley’s clean energy push, but there’s much work to be done.

A home sporting SunPower solar panels. Credit:
Tyler Wells Lynch
Written by Tyler Wells Lynch

Updated October 2, 2014

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The last few weeks have been good ones for clean energy in Silicon Valley. On Monday, Apple touted its new environmental initiatives designed to tackle climate change, and launched an urgent new ad about the importance of sustainability. Earlier this month, Greenpeace praised the company for its “innovative” and “aggressive” use of clean power.

On Wednesday, the EPA released a list of the top 100 U.S. organizations using renewable energy, and four of the top 10 brands are major tech corporations: Intel, Apple, Google, and Microsoft.

Also on Wednesday, Google announced that it has teamed with solar panel manufacturer SunPower in creating a $250 million solar power fund. The two companies will use the money to purchase solar panels, which they will lease to homeowners at a rate "typically lower than their normal electricity bill."

“So by participating in this program, you don’t just help the environment—you can also save money,” explained Google in a blog post.

"By participating in this program, you don’t just help the environment—you can also save money.”

Google boasts it has invested more than $1 billion in 16 renewable energy projects across the globe. Meanwhile, SunPower claims more than 20,000 homes have opted into the company’s solar lease program since it launched in 2011.

The initiatives come on the heels of Earth Day, and highlight the critical role of corporations in driving both clean energy investment and sustainable business practices.

Last year, Reviewed.com's Earth Day Series took an extensive look at how consumer technology effects the environment, with four in-depth stories on green technology, pollution, and efficiency standards. We’ve included links to those stories below.

Earth Day Series