By MIGUEL HELFT
SAN FRANCISCO — Google, the Internet search and advertising giant, is increasingly looking to the energy sector as a potential business opportunity.
William E. Weihl, left, and Dan W. Reicher, who focus on environmental issues at Google, on the solar-paneled roof of the company’s headquarters in California.
A Google worker trying to determine which of the company’s electric rental cars, which are powered by solar panels, is his.
From its beginning, the company has invested millions of dollars in making its own power-hungry data centers more efficient. Its philanthropic arm has made small investments in clean energy technologies.
But in recent weeks, Eric E. Schmidt, Google’s chief executive, has hinted at the company’s broad interest in the energy business. He also joined Jeffrey R. Immelt, General Electric’s chief executive, to announce that they would collaborate on policies and technologies aimed at improving the electricity grid. The effort could include offering tools for consumers.
Meanwhile, engineers at Google are hoping to unveil soon tools that could help consumers make better decisions about their energy use.
And while the company’s philanthropic unit, Google.org, has invested in clean energy start-ups like one that uses kites to harness wind power, Google is now considering large investments in projects that generate electricity from renewable sources.
“We want to make money, and we want to have impact,” said Dan W. Reicher, director for climate change and energy initiatives at Google.org...
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