Google, Facebook and Microsoft — three of the world’s biggest corporate buyers of clean power — are sounding the alarm that a nearly $US4 billion , Warren Buffett-backed renewable-energy project proposed in Iowa isn’t necessarily in the best interest of customers, including them.
The fight is an important one to watch because it demonstrates the increasing influence technology giants have on the energy transition. Tech companies have pushed utilities in other parts of the US to offer more clean energy options as they seek to clean up the sources of power for their energy-intensive operations. And since they buy so much power, the utilities often listen to them.
MidAmerican, based in Des Moines, Iowa, proposed the project in January, laying out a sweeping plan for about 2000 megawatts of wind power and 50 megawatts of solar generation. The company — which derives about 58 per cent of its power in Iowa from wind and 42 per cent from coal, nuclear and other sources — said Wind Prime is a key piece of the company’s goal to reach net-zero emissions.