Google has yet again made alternative energy news (Google invests in windfarm) by announcing it and two Japanese partners will pay GE about half a billion dollars for a majority stake in what will be the worlds largest wind farm. The project is being build in Oregon over a 30 square mile stretch near Arlington.
According to Google and GE the site will have a 845 Megawatts output on a budget of $2 billion. The site is developed by Caithness Energy and will be completed in 2012.
GE said the collaboration was part of its strategy of drawing private investment to the U.S. wind market. GE and Google are partnering with the U.S. unit of Japan’s Sumitomo Corp and a unit of Itochu Corp.
Google, Itochu and Sumitomo will together own 56 percent of the total project, reducing GE’s equity stake to 34 percent. Caithness will own the balance, GE Energy Financial Services spokesman Andy Katell said.
The turbines used for the project will be GE 338. Google’s investment is about $100 million.
