On July 14, Google sealed a landmark $3 billion, 20‑year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Brookfield Asset Management to secure up to 3 gigawatts of hydropower from two Pennsylvania facilities. Known as Holtwood and Safe Harbor, these dams will undergo upgrades and relicensing as part of the agreement . As the largest corporate procurement of hydropower to date, the deal marks a major milestone in clean-energy sourcing.
Google’s announcement came during an AI summit in Pittsburgh, where $70 billion in combined AI and energy investments were anticipated, and where President Trump also made an appearance . In remarks shared at the summit, Amanda Peterson Corio, Google’s head of data center energy, emphasized that the agreement ensures a reliable supply of clean power in PJM, the largest U.S. grid region .
The move underscores Big Tech’s growing energy demands—driven by AI and cloud infrastructure—and the increasing reliance on stable, carbon-free sources. Unlike intermittent sources such as wind and solar, hydropower offers “firm” energy that’s available regardless of weather or time of day, aligning with regulatory incentives extending through 2036 .
Alongside the hydropower purchase, Google is launching a $25 billion investment to expand data center operations across Pennsylvania and neighboring states over the next two years . The PPA also includes an option to scale up procurement toward the full 3 GW capacity, with Brookfield planning to channel any unused power into regional markets .
Environmental advocates hail the deal as a model of corporate climate responsibility. Long-term contracts like this can unlock capital for infrastructure upgrades and help de-risk renewable projects. The PPA framework may also relieve grid pressure and help stabilize costs, though some analysts caution that meeting such demand could contribute to upward pressure on household electricity prices .
This deal isn’t Google’s first forward-thinking energy move. The company has also struck PPAs for geothermal and advanced nuclear and is collaborating with PJM to leverage artificial intelligence for faster grid interconnection . The hydropower agreement puts Google in the same league as peers like Microsoft and Meta, which recently pursued their own long-term clean energy contracts—Microsoft notably securing over 10.5 GW of renewables through Brookfield .
For Brookfield, the deal taps into its massive renewable portfolio—over 16 400 MW globally—with a strong hydropower presence in Pennsylvania, where the Holtwood facility alone can power more than 100,000 homes . Hydropower in the Mid‑Atlantic and Midwest is gaining regulatory support, with extended tax credits making it increasingly attractive to corporate buyers .
In sum, Google’s $3 billion hydropower deal is a sizable vote of confidence in scalable clean energy infrastructure. By financing upgrades and taking on long-term agreements, corporations can accelerate the transition to clean power while ensuring grid reliability. As AI and cloud services continue their rapid growth, such mechanisms may become essential tools for achieving corporate sustainability goals and decarbonizing the energy mix.
