Alternative energy has been a popular topic lately as gas prices rise and resources become scarcer. Google and GE aren’t waiting for the government to find a solution. They are tasking themselves with a new initiative outside of search engines and home appliances. That task being, to develop a renewable energy source that can be implemented nationwide. It may seem like the job is out of scope for the two companies, but it makes sense considering they house some of the brightest minds in innovation and engineering.

The following excerpt was taken from the Google Blog and explains their views on the current state of renewable resources in the U.S., and why they needed to step in.

“The existing U.S. infrastructure has not kept pace with the digital economy and the hundreds of technology opportunities that are ready for market. In fact, the way we generate and distribute electricity today is essentially the same as when Thomas Edison built the first power plant well over one hundred years ago. Americans should have the choice to drive more fuel efficient cars – or even electric cars - and manage their home energy use to reduce costs, and buy power from cleaner sources, or even generate their own power for sale to the grid.”

The “Clean Energy Partnership” with GE plans to develop a combination of technologies to replace electricity and gasoline that would be known as the “smart grid.” This will allow consumers to manage their own electricity intake, reducing costs and their carbon footprint. Along with creating the technology, they also have plans to deploy it through federal policy and partnerships in Washington, D.C. It seems that Google could become an even more integral part of our daily lives.

For more information, visit the Google Blog or check out the GE and Google press release.

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