Google Bets on CCS to Power Its Data Boom

Google backs a major CCS project aimed at steady, lower carbon power for Midwest data centers

25 Oct 2025

A new energy deal is turning heads across North America as Google looks for dependable power to feed its fast-growing data center footprint in the U.S. Midwest. The company has partnered with I Squared Capital and Low Carbon Infrastructure on a project that aims to prove carbon capture is no longer an experiment but a workable tool for cutting emissions while keeping the lights on.

The venture, called Broadwing Energy, plans to generate more than 400 MW from natural gas and capture roughly 90% of the plant’s carbon output before storing it deep underground. Supporters see it as a dramatic retooling of a familiar technology, one that offers Google a steadier supply of electricity without derailing its climate commitments.

Industry leaders involved in the deal say the model could be a template for others. One infrastructure executive argued that reliability and sustainability are now inseparable requirements for companies running energy-hungry digital operations. With Google acting as a major buyer, the project gains financial footing that emerging technologies often struggle to secure.

The timing is hard to ignore. Data center growth is straining regional grids and forcing utilities to rethink long-term planning. Renewables remain essential to cutting emissions, yet their variable output has left companies searching for low-carbon options that deliver power around the clock. Carbon capture is stepping into that gap, and the Broadwing partnership suggests major players are ready to scale it.

Hurdles still loom. Carbon storage permits take time, and the cost of capture systems remains high. Analysts say Broadwing must show it can operate reliably and affordably if it hopes to spark a wave of similar projects. Even so, early reactions from experts hint at rising confidence that carbon capture can support climate goals while strengthening the grid.

Broadwing is slated to begin commercial operation near the end of the decade, a milestone that could draw more investment into firm low-carbon power. As data demand climbs, companies may find that pairing innovation with practical energy needs is the only way to keep pace with the digital world.