Tech giant Google is behind controversial data center proposal in Hermantown | Jigar Shah Following last week’s announcement with Xcel Energy/Sparkfund/Form Energy, Google has announced a data center partnership with Minnesota Power, at Hermantown. There is no new gas in the ESA but 300 M...

1/ The debate over the proposed Google data center in Hermantown doesn’t have to be framed as growth vs. community. There’s a smarter path: distributed capacity procurement + behind-the-meter batteries. 🧵

My point is that DERs offer a cheaper path to doubling the capacity of the grid, particularly in terms of otherwise needed investment to upgrade distribution and transmission systems. But a cheaper path doesn't mean cheaper overall. The goal is to drive economic growth, manufacturing, AI, etc.

You're spot on, I was saying that wrong. I really should just have used "vertically integrated". My point is that a central planning function that can price and model transmission, distribution and generation has an advantage. Where that entity gets its equity is less relevant.