Alphabet has proposed a deal with Xcel Energy to power a planned 780-megawatt AI data center in Pine Island, Minnesota, a town of about 4,000 people. Google would help pay for new power supply on Xcel's grid, which includes 1,400 megawatts of wind, 200 megawatts of solar and 300 megawatts of battery storage. Under the deal, Google would pay for at least 75% of its contracted capacity even if it uses less, and could owe up to eight years of minimum charges if it ends the deal early; the deal still needs approval from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. The article cites a Gallup survey in which 71% of Americans oppose a data center in their local area, with energy use a top concern, while Google aims to run on carbon-free energy around the clock by 2030.
Summary written by Upside AI from the original article. Read the source for full details.
Read the original on Yahoo Finance ↗
Keywords
GOOGLdata centerselectricityrenewable energy
Open a keyword to see other news on the same topic.
Related tickers and likely impact
GOOGL
▲ Likely positiveAlphabet Inc. (Class A)
Relevance: low
| Market | US stocks |
|---|---|
| Sector | Communication Services |
| Industry | Interactive Media & Services |
| Market cap | $4.3T |
| Close on 10/19/2026 | 344.18 |
| Change that session | +1.05% |
Impact is scored by AI from the headline and may be wrong. It is not investment advice.
Related news
- Petronas wants to bring Vietnamese offshore wind power to Malaysia and Singapore
Malaysia's national oil company Petronas wants to help develop a project that would carry Vietnam's offshore wind power through Malaysia to Singapore under the VMS (Vietnam-Malaysia-Singapore) project. Petronas Vietnam representative Aimy Zairin Mohamed said the project aims to link Vietnam's clean power with regional markets and could become a pioneering model for the ASEAN Power Grid. Vietnam's wind resource could exceed 400 GW, and the planned route would send power by undersea cable to Malaysia, connect it to the local grid, then onward to Singapore. The four partners are Petronas (coordinator), Tenaga Nasional Berhad, PVS and Sembcorp Utilities of Singapore. Petronas, present in Vietnam for 35 years, will also work with PetroVietnam on domestic oil and gas, LNG imports and renewables, aiming to balance energy security, affordability and sustainability.
- AllianceBernstein : How to Invest Smarter in the Race for Electrification
AllianceBernstein's analysis argues that renewables may come online fastest as economies electrify, thanks to low costs and quick speed to market. Rising power demand, driven in part by AI, makes wind and solar among the most viable additions, especially when paired with battery storage, while gas turbine order books are sold out for years. Aging grids in the US and much of the developed world need upgrades to handle higher loads, benefiting companies such as Prysmian, Hitachi, Hubbell, Schneider and CATL, which have order backlogs extending several years. The authors say investors need to be selective, paying attention to operational efficiency, regulatory and competitive factors, and the quality of data disclosure across supply chains.
- Prime Minister: Power Development Must Still Keep Prices 'Reasonable for the People'
On the afternoon of 20/10, the National Assembly discussed in group sessions a draft amendment to the Electricity Law, where Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng said large investment is needed for power development but electricity prices must stay 'reasonable for the people'. With hydropower at its limit and thermal power restricted by net-zero emissions commitments, the strategy focuses on domestic gas, LNG, solar and wind, though the PM warned that expensive LNG would push electricity prices up. The amendment also aims to simplify investment procedures, as one company spent 10 years on paperwork for an offshore wind project. Power Plan VIII for 2025-2035 has been adjusted to include about 21 LNG projects with 36,000 MW, while total installed capacity reached about 87,600 MW by end-2025. The target is 183,000-236,000 MW by 2030, and the government has directed a review and update of Power Plan VIII to ensure projects are feasible.
- Residential electricity prices may be set by peak and off-peak hours
Vietnam's Minister of Industry and Trade, Lê Mạnh Hùng, submitted to the National Assembly on the afternoon of October 20 a draft amendment to the Electricity Law. It would allow retail electricity to be priced by peak, off-peak and normal hours where technical conditions allow, with a roadmap for applying this to residential customers. The draft also sets out a plan to eliminate cross-subsidies between customer groups and proposes incentive pricing for renewable energy, new energy and storage systems. Nguyễn Thanh Hải, chair of the National Assembly's Committee for Science, Technology and Environment, asked that the scope and roadmap for removing cross-subsidies and electricity bill support be clarified, kept separate from direct aid to poor households, and that investment risks not be shifted to the State or the public. The committee also warned that the wording requiring full recovery of costs and reasonable profit could be read as the State guaranteeing investors' financial results.
- Alphabet (GOOGL) Pushes Into Carbon Removal Power Markets And Quantum AI
Alphabet (NasdaqGS: GOOGL) announced new carbon-removal commitments with McKinsey, extending its climate initiatives beyond internal operations. Google launched a virtual power plant initiative that aggregates distributed energy resources to participate in grid-scale power markets. Its Quantum AI group reported a computing breakthrough that management sees as a step toward more practical quantum systems. The article argues these moves tie Alphabet’s power supply, sustainability credentials and next-generation compute to AI workloads, but execution risks remain, including capital intensity, regulatory scrutiny and free cash flow pressure as it competes with Microsoft and Amazon Web Services.
- 2 charts show why Wall Street is right to worry about tech stocks
Rising cost of capital could affect the financial statements of hyperscalers such as Oracle (ORCL) and Google (GOOG, GOOGL) in 2027, as they need fresh debt to fund AI infrastructure and free cash flow may turn negative. JPMorgan strategist Mislav Matejka forecasts hyperscaler free cash flow will turn negative in 2027, implying credit markets will drive more of the AI build-out. Consensus estimates for 2027 capital expenditures are already rising from levels experts believe are too low. Morgan Stanley sees total 2027 capex among hyperscalers reaching $1.6 trillion, up from $978 billion estimated for this year. Dan Ives of Yorkville expects capex to reach the trillions and over 1,000 datacenters to be built in the next few years.
Related markets
Latest news
- Boeing wins FAA approval for 737 Max 10 after years of delays
The FAA certified Boeing's 737 Max 10 on Tuesday after years of delays, making it the last model in Boeing's best-selling jet family to receive government approval. The approval came weeks after federal officials reviewed a navigation system glitch and deemed it not a safety-of-flight issue. The Max 10, the largest model in the family, was originally slated to fly in 2020, but heightened scrutiny after two Max crashes in 2018 and 2019, along with other safety issues including engineering changes to an engine anti-icing system, delayed certification. Orders for this aircraft make up about 30% of Boeing's backlog, with customers including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines. United's CEO said the lie-flat seats the airline expected for the plane are now sitting in a warehouse because the wait was so long.
- Prediction: Micron Could Turn a $5,000 Investment Into This by 2030
Micron's stock was up 334% over the past 12 months and 208% year to date through the close on Oct. 16, as AI demand drives interest in memory and storage makers. From fiscal 2025 to fiscal 2026, its operating income rose from $9.77 billion to $99.34 billion, while gross margin climbed from 39.8% to 80.7%. The author projects fiscal 2027 revenue of $318 billion and assumes growth of 30% in fiscal 2028 and 25% in fiscal 2029, reaching about $517 billion in fiscal 2030. At 6.5 to 8 times sales, that implies a valuation of $3.36 trillion to $4.14 trillion versus $994 billion today, which would grow a $5,000 investment to $16,900–$20,800; at a more conservative 3 to 4 times sales, the range is $7,800–$10,400. The author concludes a $5,000 investment could reach at least $15,000 by 2030, while acknowledging that memory is cyclical and prices may cool once supply catches up.
- Swiss Regulator Approves First Retail Fund That Holds Bitcoin Directly
Switzerland's financial regulator FINMA announced on Tuesday, Oct. 20, that it approved the country's first retail exchange-traded fund investing directly in Bitcoin, classified as an alternative investment fund. FINMA waived the usual risk diversification rules, citing Bitcoin's long trading history and high trading volume compared with other cryptocurrencies. The regulator did not name the fund or its issuer and gave no launch date, though other providers have submitted or announced applications for Bitcoin ETFs. Under FINMA guidance, a Swiss custodian bank generally must hold the fund's Bitcoin, and sales must follow Swiss conduct rules, including warnings about volatility and the risk of losing money. Meanwhile, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs were down about $615 million for October through Friday, while BlackRock's IBIT was the only fund with net inflows on Monday, taking in $665.2 million.
- Is There A Risk Hiding In Newmont Stock's Strong Cash Flow?
Newmont (NEM) generated $2.2 billion of free cash flow in Q2 2026, its highest for any second quarter, as higher gold prices lifted margins. Sustaining spending on its mines is planned to rise in the second half, with about 58% of 2026 sustaining spending falling in that period, tied to key programs at Boddington and Cadia. Newmont spent $438 million on sustaining and $285 million on new projects in Q2, and expects 63% of its 2026 development spending in the second half. Management said the Red Chris project may cost more than Newcrest's original estimates, on top of the $1.4 billion 2026 development guidance, with a funding decision due later in 2026 or early 2027. Newmont ended Q2 with $3.4 billion of net cash, modestly above its target range of $1 billion ±$2 billion, and the article treats the rising bill as a risk to weigh rather than an alarm.
- Why Vicor Shares Are Soaring Today
Vicor shares climbed about 7.4% as of 2:58 p.m. ET after the modular power components maker reported stronger-than-expected third-quarter 2026 results before the market opened. Revenue rose 78.5% year over year to $197.1 million, above analysts' $187 million forecast, and net income reached $63.3 million, or $1.33 per diluted share, versus $0.63 a year earlier and an expected $1.24. Backlog climbed 166% to $406 million as of the end of September 2026, which the article links to the company licensing its power technologies to hyperscalers and its data center exposure. The stock is up about 87% so far this year, and the article notes it trades at 75.8 times operating cash flow, well above its five-year average of 36.6.
- The Banks Locked Agents Out. This Week an Agent Paid an Invoice Through the Front Door.
Between October 13 and 16, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citi, Schwab and Wells Fargo restricted AI agents from consumer accounts through four hard blocks and one contract rewrite. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon called the move a “liability transfer,” citing unverified agents, shared customer credentials and unassigned liability. In contrast, a live Visa, BILL and Billtrust B2B pilot uses the Visa Trusted Agent Protocol so a BILL Payment Agent, registered in Visa's Agentic Directory, can authenticate to supplier portals without shared credentials. The agent only executes payments already approved by the buyer, using tokenized credentials. The model targets supplier invoices by accepting card payments, which could help suppliers get paid faster and improve Days Sales Outstanding.
Get the briefing on Telegram or Zalo
Join the Upside Telegram channel or Zalo group for the Vietnam stocks and gold briefing at 8:00 and 19:00 (Vietnam time) on trading days, plus a weekly wrap on Saturday morning.