PG&E, Google launch virtual power plant for data center loads

Pacific Gas & Electric and Google have deployed a virtual power plant to manage the tech giant's data center electricity demand, though coverage suggests unresolved questions about grid integration and demand response mechanics.

First covered Sep 23, 2026 · 11:22 AM PT · 1 article

PG&E, Google launch virtual power plant for data center loads — Image via californiawire.substack.com

Coverage

3d via Bluesky PG&E, Google, and the missing data center — The utility and the tech giant have launched a new VPP, but they’re ignoring the elephant in the room.

Primary sources

gov.ca.gov Governor Newsom signs new laws to protect California elections from Trump interference | Governor of California

investors.sunrun.com Sunrun and Tesla Dispatch 580 Megawatts To California’s Grid During Heat Wave, Marking Largest Residential Distributed Power Plant Event In History

leginfo.legislature.ca.gov Bill Text - SB-887 California Environmental Quality Act: environmental leadership development projects: data centers: geothermal powerplant projects.

More coverage from around the web

canarymedia.com Should we get excited about California’s latest virtual power plant?

utilitydive.com Google bankrolls PG&E virtual power plant | Utility Dive

ess-news.com PG&E and Rewiring America announce Google-funded virtual power plant program - Energy Storage

investor.pgecorp.com PG&E Corporation - PG&E, Rewiring America and Google Launch First-of-its-Kind Virtual Power Plant to Help Lower Costs for All Customers

latitudemedia.com Why is Google funding PG&E’s latest VPP pilot? | Latitude Media

Discussion

Bluesky: @jeffstjohn.bsky.social Jeff St. John · 3d ago · 1 ♥ PG&E and Google's new Silicon Valley VPP sounds great. Who's against Google paying for solar-charged home batteries and battery-backed HVAC? But the plan ignores the elephant in the room—the grid impacts of Google's planned 250MW compute lab:…

Appeared in: 2026-09-23 (#6) · 2026-09-24 (#7)

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