Big Tech’s desperate hunt for clean power is becoming a literal lifeline for America’s aging dams. (Canary Media)
Brookfield Renewable just signed a 20-year contract to feed Microsoft’s data centers from a hydro plant in the PJM grid—a move that follows a similar, record-breaking $3B pact with Google.
The cash injection comes just in time: Hundreds of US hydro facilities (including Brookfield’s) face expensive federal relicensing battles soon. Without Big Tech money to fund mandatory upgrades, many might have simply shuttered.
The strategy: Brookfield admitted these long-term contracts let them “upfinance” the facilities—effectively using Microsoft’s credit card to take out the loans needed to keep the water flowing for another 50 years.