Top Story Google to purchase electricity from wind farm in Botetourt County LAURENCE HAMMACK The Roanoke Times Dec 18, 2024 Dec 18, 2024 Updated Jan 24, 2026 0 × Google has announced a $20 billion plan to build a series of US industrial parks powered by on-site renewable energy for its data centers. Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save The developer of a proposed utility-scale wind farm in Botetourt County has finally found a buyer for the electricity it will produce – Google.kAmpA6I r=62? t?6C8J 2??@F?465 (65?6D52J E92E :E 92D C624965 2 A@H6C\AFC492D6 28C66>6?E H:E9 E96 :?E6C?2E:@?2==J\<?@H? E649 4@>A2?J[ H9:49 H:== FD6 E96 C6?6H23=6 6?6C8J E@ 96=A CF? :ED 52E2 46?E6CD :? ':C8:?:2]k^AmkAm%96 28C66>6?E — k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^C@2?@<6]4@>^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^7`b5afg_\ff2f\``67\2f`g\ebh4cff7da6aQmH9:49 4@>6D 27E6C J62CD @7 D62C49:?8 7@C 2 3FJ6C 2?5 @E96C 492==6?86D E96 AC@;64E 92D 72465 @G6C E96 A2DE 564256k^2m — 4=62CD E96 H2J 7@C H92E H:== 36 E96 DE2E6’D 7:CDE @?D9@C6 H:?5 72C>]k^Am kAmr2==65 #@4<J u@C86 (:?5[ E96 724:=:EJ H:== 4@?D:DE @7 `b EFC3:?6D[ 6249 @?6 ecb 766E E2==[ E92E H:== 36 3F:=E 2=@?8 2 C:586=:?6 @7 }@CE9 |@F?E2:?[ 23@FE 7:G6 >:=6D ?@CE962DE @7 t28=6 #@4<]k^Am People are also reading… Former reality TV star Jessie Holmes repeats as champion of the grueling Iditarod sled dog race The future of fishing at Smith Mountain Lake could hinge on this decision Review: Too many films inspire janky ‘Bride!’ How to vote early in Franklin County for Virginia redistricting amendment Rocky Mount businesses to host pub crawl for St. Patrick's Day ‘Broken public trust’: Community speaks out against board’s decision to close Stewartsville SML Gives Day raises nearly $400K for nonprofits in Franklin, Bedford counties Ferrum College wants former coach's discrimination lawsuit dismissed Franklin County proposes increasing real estate, meals taxes Osprey 10K and 5K return to Smith Mountain Lake State Park in April Roanoke airport accepting donations for TSA as partial shutdown continues Franklin County School Board requests $8.9 million in additional funding Republicans leave out Trump while stumping against redistricting in Roanoke 'Worship over worry': Virginia church group evacuates Israel at war Trump's homeland security pick Mullin poised to inherit a department beset by challenges This computer simulation from Apex Clean Energy shows what the Rocky Forge Wind Farm would look like from a residence 1.1 miles away. Apex Clean Energy kAmr2A23=6 @7 AC@5F4:?8 FA E@ fg >682H2EED @7 6=64EC:4:EJ – 6?@F89 E@ A@H6C 23@FE a`[___ 9@>6D 2??F2==J – E96 AC@;64E :D D=2E65 E@ 368:? @A6C2E:@?D :? a_ae] r@?DECF4E:@? H:== DE2CE ?6IE J62C[ pA6I 92D D2:5 62C=:6C]k^AmkAm“#@4<J u@C86 C6AC6D6?ED 2 ?6H 492AE6C :? ':C8:?:2’D 6?6C8J EC2?D:E:@?[ 56=:G6C:?8 =2DE:?8 64@?@>:4 2?5 6?G:C@?>6?E2= 36?67:ED E@ pA6I’D 9@>6 DE2E6 H9:=6 25G2?4:?8 v@@8=6’D DFDE2:?23:=:EJ 8@2=D[” t2>@? !6CC6=[ E96 r92C=@EE6DG:==6 4@>A2?J’D 6I64FE:G6 G:46 AC6D:56?E @7 3FD:?6DD 56G6=@A>6?E[ D2:5 :? E96 2??@F?46>6?E]k^Am kAm“v@@8=6 – 2=@?8D:56 >2?J <6J DE2<69@=56CD @G6C E96 J62CD – 6?23=65 E9:D >:=6DE@?6[ 56>@?DEC2E:?8 E96 A@H6C @7 A2CE?6CD9:A :? 2446=6C2E:?8 E96 D9:7E E@ 4=62? 6?6C8J[” !6CC6= D2:5]k^Am kAmu@C E96 >F=E:?2E:@?2= E649?@=@8J 4@>A2?J[ E96 562= >2C<65 2?@E96C D>2== DE6A E@H2C5 :ED 8@2= @7 C6=J:?8 @? 42C3@?\7C66 6?6C8J 7@C 2== @7 :ED 6=64EC:4:EJ ?665D H@C=5\H:56 3J a_b_]k^AmkAmxE H2D E96 D64@?5 DF49 A2CE?6CD9:A 36EH66? pA6I 2?5 v@@8=6[ 7@==@H:?8 2? 62C=:6C A@H6C\AFC492D6 28C66>6?E 7@C E96 %:>36C>:== (:?5 724:=:EJ ?62C t=:K236E9 r:EJ :? 62DE6C? }@CE9 r2C@=:?2]k^Am kAm“pD H6 4@?E:?F6 E@ AC@8C6DD E@H2C5D @FC 8@2= E@ @A6C2E6 6G6CJ v@@8=6 42>AFD @? 4=62? 6=64EC:4:EJ 6G6CJ 9@FC @7 6G6CJ 52J 3J a_b_[ H6 2C6 2=H2JD =@@<:?8 7@C @AA@CEF?:E:6D E@ 2446=6C2E6 E96 56=:G6CJ @7 ?6H 4=62? A@H6C E@ E96 8C:5[” D2:5 p>2?52 !6E6CD@? r@C:@[ v@@8=6 9625 @7 52E2 46?E6C 6?6C8J]k^Am kAmu:CDE AC@A@D65 :? a_`d[ #@4<J u@C86 :?4965 7@CH2C5 H9:=6 @E96C H:?5 72C> AC@A@D2=D :? $@FE9H6DE ':C8:?:2 H6C6 H:E95C2H? :? E96 7246 @7 AF3=:4 @AA@D:E:@? – :?4=F5:?8 2 724:=:EJ 2E@A !@@C |@F?E2:? :? #@2?@<6 r@F?EJ[ ?@H 4C@DD65 3J E96 4@?EC@G6CD:2= |@F?E2:? '2==6J !:A6=:?6]k^Am kAm%96 C6?6H23=6 6?6C8J AC@;64E 92D 366? D=@H65 3J A6C>:EE:?8 56=2JD[ =682= 24E:@? 7C@> @AA@?6?ED[ 56D:8? 492?86D[ E96 r~'xs\`h A2?56>:4[ 2?5 2 =6?8E9J D62C49 7@C 2 D64@?5 3FJ6C 27E6C 2? 62C=:6C 562= H:E9 s@>:?:@? t?6C8J 76== E9C@F89]k^Am kAm$@>6 4C:E:4D 92G6 D2:5 E96 H:?5 2E@A }@CE9 |@F?E2:? :D ?6:E96C DEC@?8 ?@C DE625J 6?@F89 E@ DFDE2:? E96 AC@;64E]k^AmkAmqFE :? E96:C ;@:?E 2??@F?46>6?E (65?6D52J[ pA6I 2?5 v@@8=6 D2:5 :?4C62D65 AC@5F4E:@? 5FC:?8 ?:89ED 2?5 E96 H:?E6C >@?E9D >2<6D H:?5 6?6C8J 2 8@@5 4@>A=6>6?E E@ 86?6C2E:?8 6=64EC:4:EJ 5FC:?8 E96 52J H:E9 D@=2C 72C>D]k^Am kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm#@4<J u@C86 92D 72465 C6D:DE2?46 7C@> D@>6 ?62C3J C6D:56?ED[ H9@ D2J E96 H:?5>:==D – 23@FE EH:46 E96 96:89E @7 E96 (6==D u2C8@ E@H6C :? 5@H?E@H? #@2?@<6 – H:== CF:? D46?:4 G:6HD[ 42FD6 =@H 7C6BF6?4J ?@:D6[ 92C> 3:C5D 2?5 32ED[ 2?5 4C62E6 @E96C 6?G:C@?>6?E2= C:D<D]k^DA2?mk^AmkAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm$6G6C2= =2HDF:ED 92G6 366? 7:=65[ :?4=F5:?8 @?6 E92E 492==6?865 E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 t?G:C@?>6?E2= "F2=:EJ’D 2AAC@G2= @7 2 A6C>:E 7@C pA6I] p q@E6E@FCE r@F?EJ ;F586 :?:E:2==J @C56C65 E92E A2CE @7 E96 A6C>:EE:?8 AC@46DD 36 C6A62E65[ 3FE 6G6?EF2==J FA96=5 st"’D 2AAC@G2=]k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm~AA@?6?ED E96? 2AA62=65 E@ E96 ':C8:?:2 r@FCE @7 pAA62=D[ H9:49 277:C>65 E96 CF=:?8 :? $6AE6>36C]k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qm%96 H:?5 72C> H:== 36 3F:=E :? 2 C6>@E6 A2CE @7 E96 4@F?EJ[ H96C6 E96 4=@D6DE 9@>6 :D >@C6 E92? 2 >:=6 2H2J] %@ 255C6DD 4@?46C?D 23@FE 32ED 36:?8 <:==65 3J 7=J:?8 :?E@ E96 DA:??:?8 3=256D @7 E96 EFC3:?6D[ st" 92D @C56C65 E92E E96J 366? EFC?65 @77 7C@> 5FD< E@ 52H? 5FC:?8 E96 DF>>6C >@?E9D]k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmr@?DECF4E:@? @7 E96 724:=:EJ H:== 4C62E6 FA E@ ad_ ;@3D[ pA6I D2JD[ 2?5 H96? 4@>A=6E6 :E H:== 86?6C2E6 23@FE Sb_ >:==:@? :? DE2E6 2?5 =@42= E2I C6G6?F6 @G6C :ED =:76E:>6]k^DA2?mk^Am kAmkDA2? 4=2DDlQAC:?E0EC:>Qmp=E9@F89 #@4<J u@C86 92D 366? 2AAC@G65 2E E96 DE2E6 2?5 =@42= =6G6=[ pA6I :D DE:== H@C<:?8 @? 2 7:?2= D:E6 A=2? E92E >FDE 36 2AAC@G65 3J q@E6E@FCE r@F?EJ] %96 4@F?EJ “:D H@C<:?8 5:C64E=J H:E9 pA6I[ :?E6C?2= 2?5 6IE6C?2= C6G:6H6CD @? C6>2:?:?8 :E6>D[” :ED DA@<6DA6CD@? HC@E6 :? 2? 6>2:= (65?6D52J]k^DA2?mk^Am Laurence Hammack (540) 981-3239laurence.hammack@roanoke.com 0 comments The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Google reveals 'first-of-its-kind' $20B renewable energy data center projects Google has announced a $20 billion plan to build a series of US industrial parks powered by on-site renewable energy for its data centers. Watch Now: Related Video A1 Minute! March 17, 2026: Court of Champions Bracket Challenge; Petersburg wins Class 3 state title; Virginia Women Veterans Week A1 Minute! March 13, 2026: Week in Virginia A1 Minute! March 13, 2026: Week in Virginia A1 Minute March 12, 2026: UVa Health creates new chief medical officer post A1 Minute March 12, 2026: UVa Health creates new chief medical officer post A1 Minute! March 12, 2026: Court of Champions; McAuliffe announces congressional campaign; Drive and dine for Women's Month A1 Minute! March 12, 2026: Court of Champions; McAuliffe announces congressional campaign; Drive and dine for Women's Month
Google reveals 'first-of-its-kind' $20B renewable energy data center projects Google has announced a $20 billion plan to build a series of US industrial parks powered by on-site renewable energy for its data centers.
A1 Minute! March 17, 2026: Court of Champions Bracket Challenge; Petersburg wins Class 3 state title; Virginia Women Veterans Week
A1 Minute! March 12, 2026: Court of Champions; McAuliffe announces congressional campaign; Drive and dine for Women's Month
A1 Minute! March 12, 2026: Court of Champions; McAuliffe announces congressional campaign; Drive and dine for Women's Month
