In a major step toward its goal of running on 24/7 carbon-free energy, Google has signed a pioneering agreement with Brookfield Asset Management to access up to 3,000 megawatts (3 GW) of hydropower across the United States. The collaboration marks one of the largest clean energy commitments of its kind focused on hydroelectricity.
The agreement, part of a broader clean energy framework, begins with two long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) totaling 670 MW from the Holtwood and Safe Harbor hydro plants located in Pennsylvania. These facilities feed into the PJM Interconnection, the country’s largest electricity market, where Google is rapidly expanding its data center footprint.
Hydropower offers a consistent, round-the-clock source of renewable energy making it especially valuable for Google’s growing fleet of AI-powered data centers that demand stable electricity supplies. While solar and wind remain key pillars of clean energy, their intermittent nature poses limitations. Hydropower, in contrast, adds reliability to the grid and complements other renewable sources.
Google has also announced plans to invest $25 billion over the next two years in new data center infrastructure across the PJM region. This massive investment reflects the surging energy needs of artificial intelligence applications and cloud services. The partnership with Brookfield allows flexibility for Google to scale its clean energy purchases over time, potentially reaching the full 3 GW target as additional hydro facilities come online or are added to the agreement.
Leaders from both companies emphasized the importance of aligning clean energy procurement with infrastructure growth. While Brookfield sees this as a way to unlock the potential of existing hydro assets, Google views the agreement as a foundation for building a truly carbon-free digital ecosystem. This deal not only reinforces hydropower’s role in the future energy mix but also signals a shift in how major technology firms approach sustainability prioritizing not just how much clean energy they buy, but when and how it’s generated.
