Google wants to become an electricity merchant to cut costs
From Véronique DUPONT (AFP) - 1 day ago
NEW YORK - After unveiling a phone this week, internet giant Google continues to diversify its activities and wants to become an energy merchant, an activity that would allow it to reduce its costs, its carbon footprint but also perhaps to develop synergies.
According to a document filed with the US Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) at the end of December, the group, through a subsidiary Google Energy, asked to be able to benefit from a merchant status, with "tariffs associates ", and" general authorization "to buy and sell in the energy markets.
"It's still a new direction" for Google, remarks Jeff Kagan, independent technology analyst interviewed Friday by AFP, while the group has already unveiled Tuesday its multifunction phone "Nexus One", intended to compete with the iPhone of Apple.
Google has made its request to FERC "to have more flexibility on its energy supply for its own activities, including its data centers", very large consumers, Niki Fenwick, spokesperson for the group told AFP .
Merchant status "would increase our ability to cover our energy purchases and to incorporate renewable energies into our energy portfolio," she added.
Google's efforts to "locate its facilities near major energy sources, such as hydroelectric dams, reveal the importance of their" energy needs, Carmy Levy, another independent technology analyst, told AFP.
Google made a commitment in 2007 to reduce its CO2 emissions to achieve carbon neutrality and achieved it "in 2007 and partly for 2008," says Fenwick.
The group also announced in 2007 that it would invest in green energy. He notably launched an electronic gauge, PowerMeter, a free software allowing individuals and businesses to control their consumption. (...)
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