Google Going Green
Google’s reputation for innovation continues to grow, this time expanding into the energy sector with their Clean Energy 2030 proposal. The plan, which is a product of Google’s not-for-profit organization Google.org, calls for a $4.4 trillion investment in alternative energy over the next 22 years to lessen U.S. dependence on fossil fuels. The plan suggests net savings of $1 trillion and the creation of nearly 500,000 new jobs to support this transformation.
Is the plan too ambitious? I believe it is on two major fronts:
1. By 2030, the U.S. will produce exactly 0% of its electricity burning coal and oil.
It’s not en vogue to criticize green energy, and I for one, don’t doubt its potential to transform the future. However, suggesting that our country can be completely free of oil and coal within 22 years when over half our electricity currently comes from those sources is over-ambitious. The only proven power sources that Google sees in the picture in 2030 are hydro and nuclear, and even those outputs are to remain fairly steady in their plan. Instead, Google suggests virtually all oil and coal replacement will come from solar, wind and geothermal. Ignoring nuclear power in the plan is a mistake.
2. Roughly 60% of new car sales in 2030 will be plug-in hybrids, with another 20% being fully electric.
Electric car technology is fairly proven, but infrastructure and profitability remain the issue in the automotive industry. Without government mandates, it’s unthinkable that car companies would follow suit with Google’s goals. Public perception aside, there is no incentive for automobile manufacturers. And a federal mandate will be tough to say the least.
But maybe by focusing on the details, I’m missing the most important point: alternative energy gained an important partner this past week. Google’s brand is built on innovation. When the company speaks on a topic, no matter how outlandish or unrelated to its core business, people listen.
This is neither the first plan nor the last that will attempt to solve this country’s energy challenges. However, it’s refreshing to see the issue move away from politics and self-interested oil companies, and into the hands of a universally respected innovator with the money to weave dreams into reality.
