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In a pioneering move that could redefine how tech giants power their infrastructure, Brookfield Asset Management, along with Brookfield Renewable Partners, on Tuesday revealed a landmark $3 billion-plus hydropower agreement with Google. The deal, touted as a "first-of-its-kind," is set to generate up to 3,000 megawatts (MW) of clean hydroelectric capacity nationwide.

The initiative is anchored in Brookfield’s Hydro Framework Agreement (HFA) with Google and begins with the Holtwood and Safe Harbor facilities in Pennsylvania, which together currently boast 670 MW of capacity. These two hydro plants are undergoing relicensing, with the aim of breathing new life into legacy infrastructure to support Google's growing energy demands.

Hydropower Powers the Cloud

“This transaction is not just about electrons — it’s about reliability, scalability, and sustainability,” Brookfield said in a statement, emphasizing the ability to deliver dispatchable carbon-free electricity. In other words, this isn’t intermittent solar or wind — it’s flexible clean power when and where it’s needed most.

Google’s PJM-region operations — part of the mid-Atlantic PJM Interconnection and Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) — will be the first to benefit under 20-year power purchase agreements (PPAs). These long-term contracts guarantee Google clean electricity sourced from the Pennsylvania facilities while safeguarding Brookfield’s existing commitments, such as supplying power to Amtrak from the Safe Harbor site.

Future-Focused, Grid-Strengthening Energy

Amanda P. Corsio, Google’s head of data center energy, hailed the partnership as a leap toward the company’s 24/7 carbon-free energy goal:

“Hydropower is a proven, low-cost technology offering dependable, homegrown, carbon-free electricity that creates jobs and builds a stronger grid for all.”

The agreement gives Google the right to procure power from hydroelectric assets that are upgraded, relicensed, or modernized, potentially unlocking legacy facilities across the U.S. for new green power generation.

With eyes on other U.S. regions beyond the initial PJM and MISO focus, Brookfield said it intends to expand the framework to additional markets in the future.

This deal isn't just about tech and turbines — it's a blueprint for how corporate energy demands and climate goals can converge through innovative infrastructure investment.