Yes, It’s true. Google has invested $15 million in the wind start up Makani Power. According to Clean Tech

Alameda, Calif.-based Makani won’t release details of its kites, which use wing-shaped membranes to harness wind energy at high altitudes. The company says the elevation allows them to gather 10 times more energy than traditional wind turbines.

This energy investment, joins Google’s similar investment earlier this month. Forbes reported that,

Google.org, the philanthropic arm of search giant Google, announced it would try to help spur companies to reach underground to produce clean electricity. It is investing a total of $10 million in a geothermal energy company called AltaRock Energy and a drilling company called Potter Drilling, and it is funding research and mapping efforts and a policy agenda.

It is part of Google.org’s effort to help bring about renewable energy that is cheaper than coal by investing in companies, research and policy development. The organization is focusing on three main technologies: solar thermal power, which uses the sun’s heat to generate electricity; advanced wind technology; and, now, a way of tapping geothermal energy called enhanced geothermal systems, or EGS.

Energy matters. Google recognizes this. Shouldn’t Oregon?

This entry was posted on Saturday, August 30th, 2008 at 6:01 am and is filed under Energy, Investment, wind. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.