GoKawiilGoogle proposes 780MW Minnesota data center paired with new Xcel Energy capacity
Google is seeking to build a 780-megawatt AI data center in Pine Island, Minnesota, under a deal with utility Xcel Energy in which Google would finance 1,400 megawatts of wind, 200 megawatts of solar and 300 megawatts of battery storage — more capacity than the data center itself is expected to use. Xcel says the added power will serve all local customers, not just Google, and the agreement includes minimum demand charges and exit fees requiring Google to keep paying even if it doesn't use all the power.