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Google Pioneers Clean Energy Data Center In Minnesota With Revolutionary Iron-Air Battery Technology

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

February 25, 2026

Google is set to radically transform Minnesota’s energy landscape with its first data center in the state. Strategically located in Pine Island, just an hour southeast of Minneapolis, the facility will be powered by an impressive 1.9 gigawatts of clean energy, including a groundbreaking 300-megawatt iron‐air battery developed by startup Form Energy.

Unprecedented Energy Infrastructure

The project, executed in collaboration with Xcel Energy, will integrate 1.4 gigawatts of wind and 200 megawatts of solar power to sustainably support operations. The centerpiece is Form Energy’s battery, engineered to deliver power at its rated capacity for 100 hours. Boasting an awe-inspiring 30 gigawatt-hours storage capacity, this will be the world’s largest battery, ensuring prolonged clean energy availability and enhancing grid stability during periods of intermittent renewable generation.

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Innovative Iron-Air Battery Technology

Form Energy’s approach differs from conventional lithium-ion systems by using iron-air chemistry. The process relies on the oxidation of iron to generate electricity, while charging reverses the reaction by converting rust back into metallic iron and releasing oxygen. Although iron-air batteries operate at lower efficiency rates than lithium-ion alternatives, they offer a significant cost advantage. The company estimates storage costs at roughly $20 per kilowatt-hour, positioning the technology as a practical option for long-duration storage.

Strategic Utility And Regulatory Innovation

Google is also introducing a new utility fee structure in Minnesota designed to accelerate clean energy deployment. The model, often described as a clean transition tariff, allows utilities to adopt emerging renewable technologies while maintaining regulatory compliance and limiting cost impacts on consumers. A similar framework was previously tested in Nevada through cooperation with geothermal energy developer Fervo.

Partnerships And Future Prospects

The project includes collaboration with Great River Energy, which will deploy Form Energy’s first battery installation in Minnesota. That system is expected to store 150 megawatt-hours and deliver up to 1.5 megawatts of power to the grid over a 100-hour duration. Form Energy, which has raised approximately $1.4 billion and operates manufacturing facilities in West Virginia, is positioning itself as a key player in long-duration storage.

Google’s Minnesota data center reflects a broader shift among large technology companies toward pairing renewable generation with large-scale storage. The project aims to strengthen grid reliability while supporting long-term clean energy targets.

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Meta’s $18 Billion Settlement Limits State Claims Over Children’s Data

by News Editor

August 28, 2026

Meta’s $18 billion settlement with attorneys general from 29 U.S. states includes a provision limiting future state claims over the company’s use of children’s data for age-assurance systems.

Under the agreement, Meta must develop, train and begin testing a system to identify users under 13 within a year of the settlement taking effect. The company already uses AI-based age-detection tools, although the agreement does not require the new system to use AI.

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States Agree To Limits On Future Claims

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) generally restricts the collection and retention of personal data from children under 13. Under the settlement, the 29 state attorneys general agreed not to bring past, present or future claims under COPPA or similar state laws over the specified use of children’s data.

Meta will not be permitted to use information from users under 13 for advertising, marketing or algorithmic optimisation.

Federal Enforcement Remains Unclear

COPPA is primarily enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, which is not a party to the agreement. That leaves open the possibility of separate federal action over how Meta collects or uses children’s data.

Another issue is whether Meta can keep age-assurance data isolated from its other systems. An independent auditor will monitor compliance, but the settlement does not fully specify what data Meta can retain for training, how long it can be stored or whether derived insights can be used elsewhere.

Legal Risks Remain

Joshua Wurtzel, a partner at Schlam Stone & Dolan, said states could still pursue claims if Meta uses the data outside the settlement’s limits. Such cases could depend on how those limits are interpreted.

Peter Jackson, a data and intellectual property attorney at Greenberg Glusker, said the provision could “disincentivize future enforcement actions.”

The agreement gives Meta greater legal certainty around using children’s data for age assurance, but questions remain over federal enforcement, data retention and secondary use.