Google Unveils Plan to Reduce Dependence on Fossil Fuels

By JESSICA E. VASCELLARO

Google Inc. Wednesday unveiled a $4.4 trillion plan for reducing U.S. dependence on fossil fuels, as the Internet giant tries to emerge as a leading advocate for greater adoption of alternative energy.
The proposal is based on the U.S. halting the generation of electricity from coal and oil by 2030 and relying on power from wind, nuclear and geothermal sources instead. It also entails cutting oil use for cars by 40%.
While requiring $4.4 trillion in expenditures, Google estimates that the plan would return a net savings of $1.0 trillion over its 22-year duration and create many new jobs. Work on the report was led by Jeffery Greenblatt, climate and energy technology manager for Google.org, the company's nonprofit arm.
"With a new Administration and Congress -- and multiple energy-related imperatives -- this is an opportune, perhaps unprecedented, moment to move from plan to action," states the report, which the company made available via a link off the company's corporate blog.
In the body of the report, Google acknowledged that its proposal was less ambitious than one put forth by former Vice President Al Gore, who is challenging the U.S. to wean itself off all carbon-produced electricity within 10 years. But Google said by issuing the report it aimed to "stimulate debate."
Google has been raising its visibility in the renewable-energy arena. The company last month announced plans to lobby for an improved national power grid that makes better use of alternative energy. The company has invested more than $45 million in small companies developing new wind, solar and geothermal technologies this year.
Google hopes renewable energy can help it lower the costs of running its data centers. In a blog post on its Web site Wednesday, Google said it has identified $5 million in building efficiency investments to reduce its energy use that could be paid back over two and a half years. The company added that believes its data centers are already "the most efficient in the world," saying that they use "nearly five times less energy than conventional facilities to feed and cool the computers inside."
Eric Schmidt, Google's chief executive, is expected to discuss the plan during a speech Wednesday night in San Francisco.
Write to Jessica E. Vascellaro at jessica.vascellaro@wsj.com