Google - The Renewable Energy Company

Google is diversifying and spending on renewable energy:

“Google is investing $10 million in “enhanced” geothermal systems–essentially technology for tapping underground heat–which it says is one of most promising forms of renewable energy.

Through its philanthropic arm Google.org, the Internet giant will invest in two geothermal technology start-up companies and give a university grant to study the potential of geothermal resources.”

link: Google digs into wallet for geothermal energy

That expenditure may be viewed as a ‘good will expense’, with subsequent tax benefits. Google must know how much time, measured in hours, it takes to generate ten million dollars. If Google was absolutely serious about renewable energy, it would be approaching the investment it put into YouTube. That was $1.65 billion dollars spent on YouTube, with the possibility of turning that investment into a profit center. By comparison, ten million dollars is “pocket change” to Google and an astute public relations expense.

Catherine Forsythe