Google Gets Green Light to Buy, Sell Electricity
Google officially allowed to buy and sell electricity.
Back in January, Google put in a request to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the regulatory body that oversees the power grid. Applying under a subsidiary called Google Energy, the search giant was seeking permission to buy and sell electricity on the wholesale market.
However, Google Energy is not about entering the electricity market. Rather, Google is just eager to reduce its carbon footprint. At the time, a Google spokesperson told CNet that Google wants to buy the highest quality and most affordable renewable energy wherever it can.
"Right now, we can't buy affordable, utility-scale, renewable energy in our markets," said Google rep Niki Fenwick. "We want to buy the highest quality, most affordable renewable energy wherever we can and use the green credits."
The FERC today granted Google Energy market-based rate authorization. This means Google has been approved for the sale of energy, capacity, and ancillary services at market-based rates. However, the Commission clarified that neither Google Energy nor its affiliates "own or control any generation or transmission" facilities.
CNet's Candace Lombardi writes that it is not unusual for large corporations to be granted the authority to trade in the wholesale electricity market for the purpose of managing their own energy costs. However, it seems Google hasn't quite ruled out entering the energy business.
"We don't have any concrete plans. We want the ability to buy and sell electricity in case it becomes part of our portfolio," Fenwick told CNET News in January.
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Cant wait for the Google International Airport to be approved by the FAA next year.
Yay, Google Electricity to power you Google Nexus One or your computer running the Google Chrome OS using your Google 1gbit internet access.
Smart move; I can see a couple of wind towers that will supply all the energy needs and sell the surplus back to the grid.
Well, they already do have the Boeing airliner and the F-14(?) jet at Moffett Field.
Alright so Google seems right on schedule for world domination...
Google for president 2012?
God, with all of that could it be any more obvious that google's real name is skynet?
Definitly sounds like monopoly in many ways.
God, with all of that could it be any more obvious that google's real name is skynet?
Exactly what I was thinking lol
Next headline:
Google acquires metal foundry
Google buys AMD
AMD creates advanced learning CPU
Google buys various chemical companies
You are the resistance.
surgey brin and larry page will soon be our overlords
They can repackage it and make profit because as long as NIMBY gets in the way, there's going to be a shortage of green energy and who do you think will wrap it up and sell it? Google!
Are they saying they want to buy "green energy" in markets where is it more expensive than non-green energy and sell it for the same cost as normal electricity, effectively subsidizing others using "greener" energy?
And why is it that "green" energy refers to power generated from non-co2 emitting sources, when an increase in co2 results in greater plant mass, thus is more green? I understand that soot and other actual pollutants are bad for the environment, but wouldn't the best end product for plant life be co2 which would then feed additional plants?
Google enron ehhh...
Google Soap
Google Toothpaste
Google Sugar
Google etc...
It will be really scary when Stark Industries...err...Google starts to sell weapons to the highest bidder.
hmmmmmm.... Google? Skynet? Terminators? OH CRAP.
God, with all of that could it be any more obvious that google's real name is skynet?
Except that their terminators would be fighting against Apple and Microsoft rather than humanity.
"Google becomes self-aware"
Google, bettering your life online and your everyday life.
It would appear God is real and his name is Google.
Except that their terminators would be fighting against Apple and Microsoft rather than humanity.
drinking contest with steve jobs?
great, so the next time I go to change the thermostat there will be a stupid underline for the temperature readout. If I mistakenly push the underlined numbers I will be whisked away to some stupid advertisement for green energy solutions or some crappy website advising me on the most optimal temperature setting for my area. Then my information will be sold to advertisers around the world with my home address that will send me spam snail mail with energy conservation pamphlets wanting me to buy stuff. crap crap crap!
Google enron ehhh...
I didn't think about that but they would actually be fulfilling the exact roll that Enron used to play in the market.
CADIE will make her comeback to rule the world with her Robot Panda Army!!!
http://cadiesingularity.blogspot.com/
dontbeevildontbeevildontbeevildontbeevildontbeevildontbeevildontbeevil
Definitly sounds like monopoly in many ways.
Except that Google is proven to be a trustworthy company.
They are becoming extremely powerful, but for now, they're keeping it under control.
I don't want to see the day when Google loses control though (mainly corruption and greed).
I hate my power company, They sent me a random $800 bill for absolutely nothing. Twice. They cut my power in the middle of winter (we have an old wood stove luckily, or we would have had to rent a hotel because of the cold). We couldn't do anything about it because the power company is owned by the city...
If I saw Google Energy listed locally, I'd hop onto it like a cheap hooker on a rich guy.
Umbrella Corporation anyone?
Resistance is futile...
I didn't realised google is becoming a mega corporation. I hope they don't end up like the Dutch East India Company. Corrupt business people with standing army.
It is obvious from the comments that people do not understand the concept.
or johnny i have no sense of humor lucky.. They are making fun of the artical with some world domination movie plots because google is taking over everything
At least google has always thought everything should be free as long as people advertise with them only.
Indeed. A lot of google stuff is open source and more accessible than Apple and Microsoft software.
I really lolled at "Google becomes self-aware". =D