05/13/2026
Google solar deal adds fuel to Matagorda data center debate -
By Kavan Van Hal | [email protected]
As debate over large-scale data center development continues in Matagorda County, Google has announced a new long-term renewable energy agreement connected to supporting its expanding data center operations in Texas.
Google announced it has signed a 15-year power purchase agreement with renewable energy developer Linea Energy for 500 megawatts of power generated through a new solar project in Matagorda County.
According to the company, the agreement will source power from Linea’s planned Duffy Solar Project, which will span 3,526 acres in Matagorda and support Google’s data center operations within the Electric Reliability Council of Texas market, better known as ERCOT.
The project is expected to begin construction during the third quarter of 2026 and will be co-located with the 235-megawatt Duffy battery energy storage system currently under construction.
The announcement comes as Matagorda County residents continue voicing concern over the broader expansion of data center and digital infrastructure projects in the region.
Residents associated with MAD have attended Commissioners Court and local economic development meetings in recent weeks, while online organizing and petition efforts have continued as more projects tied to data centers and energy infrastructure draw attention across the county.
The Google announcement marks the latest in a series of large clean-energy purchases tied to the rapidly growing data center industry, particularly as artificial intelligence systems and cloud computing increase power demand nationwide.
Earlier this year, Google also announced a 1-gigawatt solar agreement with TotalEnergies in Texas and a separate 1.2-gigawatt agreement with Clearway Energy involving data center operations in Texas, Missouri and West Virginia.
Google has publicly committed to reaching net-zero emissions across its operations and value chain by 2030 while also pursuing what the company calls its “24/7 carbon-free energy” initiative, aimed at matching electricity usage with carbon-free energy sources every hour of every day.
“By collaborating with Linea Energy to bring new low-cost power to the grid, we are helping to ensure the Lone Star State’s energy system remains affordable for local families and businesses,” said Will Conkling, Google’s director of energy and power.
Linea Energy CEO Cassidy DeLine said the agreement reflects the company’s role in serving large clean-energy buyers.
“We are pleased to sign this agreement to supply clean energy in Texas to Google, one of the world’s largest buyers of clean power,” DeLine said. “This transaction highlights Linea’s credibility amongst the largest hyperscalers and the ability to support affordability and grid reliability.”
The debate over data centers and the infrastructure supporting them is expected to continue as more energy and technology companies announce projects tied to the region.
MAD — Matagorda County Against Data Centers — has continued organizing against the developments, with its petition reaching 792 signatures as of the latest count provided.
Texas has increasingly become a focal point for both renewable energy expansion and data center growth due to its large land availability, energy market and major transmission infrastructure.
At the same time, rapid growth has sparked mounting concern in some rural communities over electrical demand, strain on infrastructure, land use changes and environmental impact.
· Kavan Van Hal is the Managing Editor at the Bay CityTribune he can be reached at [email protected]
https://baycitytribune.com/news/google-solar-deal-adds-fuel-to-matagorda-data-center-debate/article_b910f647-7225-4c85-a111-a4aab5c3bbf4.html?fbclid=IwVERDUARwxURleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR7--wJsQUpr-k2FEIOgKeUmcHg9L_tfy4D28_TN950Xst8og9g5AtWdEKmHMg_aem_pVv66gI-U4zrzIliaMH1Wg
