Google Takes On Global Warming
Google wants to apply its expertise in running energy-efficient data centers into broader renewable energy businesses. Obviously, this has little to do with search or organizing the world’s information, which is why it is under Google.org. But Google has money to burn, and if anything comes out of this effort, it will be well worth it. Nevertheless, getting renewable energy below the cost of coal at an unsubsidized rate is a tall order for anyone. It is an audacious goal that nobody will blame Google for not meeting, and that will attract heaps praise if they make any progress whatsoever. But, hey, they are smart guys. Solving global warming is just a big engineering problem, right? Larry Page could do that on his 20-percent Tuesdays.