The project sits at the very windy intersection of the Mojave Desert and Tehachapi Mountains, and "it is a part of the new 4,500 MW Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project (TRTP)," the Internet search giant wrote in a blog post.
"We're always looking for projects that are uniquely positioned to transform our energy sector," the company continued. Upon completion, the AWEC alone, according to Google, will generate 1,550 MW, which will be enough to power 450,000 homes.
Google and Citi Bank are partaking in this venture through a leveraged lease.
As Google describes it, they "are purchasing the Alta IV project and will lease it back to Terra-Gen, who will manage and operate the wind projects under long-term agreements." This type of financial system has been used previously in the solar power sector, and Google hopes that this will encourage other investors to take wind energy projects.
Google said that it is not purchasing energy from AWEC, but rather, it is helping "California meet its ambitious renewable energy portfolio standard of 33 percent clean power by 2020" and the entirety of AWEC will "boost California's wind generation by 30 percent."
The $55 million investment brings Google's total investment in clean energy to more than $400 million.
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