Google has signed the first U.S. corporate power purchase agreement involving natural gas with carbon capture, marking a major shift in how Big Tech plans to fuel the data-hungry future of artificial intelligence.
The deal centers on the Broadwing Project, a 400-megawatt gas-fired power plant planned for Decatur, Illinois, developed by privately held Low Carbon Infrastructure. The plant will capture and store about 90% of its carbon dioxide emissions in underground wells 5,000 to 7,000 feet deep. Power will flow to Google’s expanding network of Midwestern data centers through the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), which covers 15 states.
The agreement builds on Google’s recent efforts to secure cleaner and more reliable electricity for its AI-driven data centers, including partnerships with advanced nuclear, geothermal, and hydropower projects. It is Google’s first foray into carbon capture—a technology praised by the IEA and IPCC as vital for decarbonizing heavy industry but criticized for its high cost and uncertain scalability.
“We’ve been really focused on advancing around-the-clock clean technologies, and this is an important piece of the puzzle,” said Michael Terrell, head of Advanced Energy at Google.
The Broadwing project will be built at an existing Archer Daniels Midland industrial site that already injects carbon dioxide underground from ethanol production. Construction is expected to last four years, employing about 650 union laborers and 100 management and support staff. Low Carbon Infrastructure CEO Jonathan Wiens said the project demonstrates that carbon capture can be commercially viable today.
The company expects to reach a final investment decision in the first half of 2026, with operations beginning in the early 2030s. ADM will also have the option to buy power from the plant. Google and Low Carbon Infrastructure plan additional carbon capture projects across the U.S. as Big Tech searches for dependable, politically acceptable energy sources to power the AI era.
By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com
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