When God starts telling you to use geothermal energy, you should probably listen. Google Inc. [GOOG], a company many think can do no wrong, is jumping on the geothermal bandwagon, announcing on Tuesday it is investing $10.25 million in two geothermal companies, AltaRock Energy Inc. (as part of the company's $26.25 million Series B, also announced Tuesday) and Potter Drilling Inc., while also awarding a $489,521 grant (how did they come up with that number?) to the Southern Methodist University Geothermal Lab to study geothermal resources.
Google last November announced it would launch a renewable energy venture through its philanthropic arm, and would be investing in two companies, eSolar Inc. and Makani Power Inc. It also participated in a $115 million Series C round of funding in solar power firm BrightSource in May.
The news from Google comes just days after geothermal energy services company ThermaSource LLC announced a $41.5 million round of funding. - David Shabelman
See Aug. 19 press release from Google
See Aug. 19 press release from AltaRock
See Aug. 18 story from EnergyCurrent
See Aug. 12 post from Tech Confidential on ThermaSource
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