Inside the Broadwing Energy facility: Google’s bold bet on CCS to secure 24/7 clean electricity

In a landmark move that could reshape corporate energy procurement and the future of dispatchable low-carbon power, Google has entered a first-of-its-kind agreement with I Squared Capital and Low Carbon Infrastructure to offtake electricity from a carbon capture-integrated power plant. The 400-megawatt Broadwing Energy facility, to be developed at Archer Daniels Midland’s industrial site in Decatur, Illinois, will become the first commercial-scale gas-fired cogeneration plant in the United States to deploy carbon capture and sequestration technology with a direct corporate buyer.

The project not only represents a blueprint for clean, firm power in an era dominated by renewable intermittency concerns, but also showcases how private infrastructure investors, industrial operators, and hyperscale cloud platforms are forming novel alliances to meet ambitious decarbonization goals.

When operational, Broadwing Energy is expected to capture and permanently store over 90 percent of its carbon dioxide emissions, while also producing 1.5 million pounds of steam per hour for industrial use. The project underscores a new hybridized infrastructure model that simultaneously addresses power reliability, emissions intensity, and industrial integration.

Why is this the first real test of CCS-enabled firm power procurement in the U.S. corporate energy market?

The agreement between Google, I Squared Capital, and Low Carbon Infrastructure marks the first publicly disclosed instance of a hyperscale technology firm purchasing power directly from a carbon capture-equipped fossil fuel generator. Unlike conventional wind or solar power purchase agreements, this deal involves dispatchable generation with embedded emissions mitigation—an arrangement previously considered too expensive or unproven at scale.

I Squared Capital, which manages over USD 37 billion in global infrastructure assets, has positioned the project as a cornerstone of its broader climate-resilient investment thesis. Low Carbon Infrastructure, a dedicated decarbonization platform within I Squared Capital’s portfolio, will oversee development and operations. The initiative is meant to validate the commercial viability of pairing carbon capture technology with high-efficiency gas turbines for corporate buyers seeking 24/7 carbon-free energy portfolios.

Google’s Head of Advanced Energy Michael Terrell indicated that the project represents a critical expansion of the company’s clean energy toolkit, allowing it to integrate firm power into a grid mix increasingly dominated by intermittent renewables. The technology company remains on track for its previously announced goal of running entirely on carbon-free energy across all operations by 2030.

How will the Broadwing Energy plant integrate carbon capture and how is ADM’s Decatur site uniquely suited?

The Broadwing Energy facility will be built at Archer Daniels Midland’s established industrial campus in Decatur, Illinois—an area with over a decade of operational experience in deep saline carbon sequestration. ADM has previously conducted carbon capture and storage demonstration projects with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and already holds Class VI permits from the Environmental Protection Agency, allowing for permanent underground injection of CO₂.

The facility will be powered by Mitsubishi Power’s advanced M501JAC gas turbine, which is designed to maximize heat rate efficiency and support full-scale CCS integration. Captured CO₂ from the facility will be compressed and injected over a mile underground into ADM’s Class VI-approved wells.

This location provides significant permitting and infrastructure advantages. ADM’s existing pipeline network, CO₂ monitoring systems, and geological data drastically reduce development lead time and project risk. It also enables the co-location of industrial steam loads and clean electricity generation—a model that could be replicated at other brownfield industrial sites across the Midwest and Gulf Coast.

What are the projected jobs, construction milestones, and community impacts from Broadwing’s development?

Low Carbon Infrastructure has forecasted that the four-year construction phase will create over 650 union craft jobs and approximately 100 management and support roles. Once operational, the plant will support dozens of full-time, high-skill positions related to operations, environmental monitoring, and maintenance. Community engagement is already underway, with developers committing to long-term stakeholder dialogue throughout permitting, construction, and commissioning.

From an economic standpoint, the Broadwing Energy project is expected to inject hundreds of millions of dollars into the Decatur region. Governor JB Pritzker welcomed the project’s announcement, stating it was further evidence of Illinois’ leadership in clean technology deployment and carbon management. Pritzker also noted the site selection reinforces Illinois’ central role in advancing industrial decarbonization while safeguarding grid reliability.

What institutional strategies are driving I Squared Capital and Low Carbon Infrastructure’s CCS ambitions?

I Squared Capital and Low Carbon Infrastructure are developing a broader pipeline of CCS-enabled facilities across North America, targeting both electricity markets and hard-to-abate industrial hubs. Their investment thesis centers on unlocking scalable, baseload-capable energy infrastructure that can meet corporate and utility demand while complying with tightening emissions regulations.

The Inflation Reduction Act’s expansion of the 45Q tax credit for carbon capture—boosting support to USD 85 per ton for secure geological storage—has significantly improved the internal rate of return for projects like Broadwing. By pairing long-term corporate offtake agreements with favorable tax incentives, Low Carbon Infrastructure aims to create a replicable project finance structure that blends climate impact with investor-grade returns.

Experts suggest this strategy aligns with a growing investor appetite for decarbonization infrastructure that goes beyond wind and solar. Institutional allocators are increasingly focused on firm, clean capacity that can replace legacy baseload assets while offering differentiated revenue models and tangible ESG metrics.

What are the major regulatory and financial milestones ahead before final investment decision in 2026?

The project’s engineering, procurement, and construction will be led by Kiewit Power Constructors, one of the most experienced utility-scale EPC firms in the U.S. Broadwing Energy is currently in advanced development, with a final investment decision targeted for the second quarter of 2026.

Key milestones include completion of environmental assessments, interconnection studies, debt and equity structuring, and securing ancillary permits for CO₂ transport and injection. Given that ADM’s Class VI permits are already active, the regulatory burden is notably lower compared to greenfield CCS proposals elsewhere in the U.S.

Commercial operations are scheduled to begin in 2030, contingent on the timely completion of permitting, financing, and construction. If successful, the project could become the nation’s first CCS-integrated cogeneration plant operating under a direct corporate power purchase agreement—a significant milestone for U.S. clean energy markets.

How are institutional investors and energy analysts viewing the significance of this clean firm power deal?

Institutional sentiment around Broadwing Energy is broadly positive, with analysts describing it as a potential “proof of concept” for clean firm power procurement at scale. By leveraging CCS rather than relying solely on battery storage or hydrogen, the project offers a high-efficiency, dispatchable alternative for large-scale decarbonization.

Google’s participation in the project is seen as both a technological endorsement and a financial validation of CCS. Energy analysts point out that Google’s involvement is likely to draw in peer tech firms, data center operators, and clean utility buyers who are searching for credible firm power strategies that align with 24/7 carbon-free energy targets.

From a financial market perspective, Broadwing may also catalyze new investor interest in project finance-backed CCS deals, especially those with clear regulatory pathways and revenue predictability through offtake arrangements. Analysts believe the project will serve as a litmus test for how private capital, industrial assets, and climate commitments can converge into scalable infrastructure models.

What is the broader relevance of this project in the context of U.S. climate and energy policy?

Broadwing Energy’s model directly addresses one of the central policy challenges facing U.S. energy markets: how to maintain grid reliability while reducing emissions. As wind and solar penetration increases, grid operators and regulators are under pressure to secure dispatchable capacity that does not reintroduce legacy fossil emissions.

Carbon capture and sequestration, particularly when integrated into new or repowered natural gas plants, offers one pathway to meet these dual goals. The successful implementation of Broadwing could influence the Department of Energy’s CCS roadmap, accelerate Class VI permitting reforms, and support the buildout of a national CO₂ pipeline network—each of which is critical to the long-term viability of the U.S. clean energy transition.

Key takeaways: What the Google–I Squared CCS power partnership signals for U.S. clean firm power

• Google has signed the first-ever corporate power offtake deal with a CCS-enabled natural gas power plant in the United States, partnering with I Squared Capital and Low Carbon Infrastructure.
• The 400 MW Broadwing Energy plant will be developed at Archer Daniels Midland’s Decatur site and is designed to capture and permanently store over 90% of its CO₂ emissions.
• The facility will also generate 1.5 million pounds of industrial steam per hour and use Mitsubishi Power’s M501JAC gas turbine to maximize efficiency and CCS integration.
• Decatur was selected due to ADM’s existing EPA Class VI permits and over a decade of operational experience with geologic CO₂ sequestration.
• Construction is expected to begin after a final investment decision in Q2 2026, with commercial operations slated for 2030.
• The Broadwing Energy project will create approximately 650 union jobs and 100 management roles during construction, with dozens of long-term operations jobs post-commissioning.
• Kiewit Power Constructors has been selected as the EPC lead, with permitting and financing milestones underway.
• Analysts and institutional investors view the project as a scalable proof-of-concept for dispatchable, clean firm power in corporate energy procurement.
• I Squared Capital and Low Carbon Infrastructure plan to replicate this CCS model across other North American sites, capitalizing on enhanced 45Q tax incentives.
• Governor JB Pritzker hailed the Broadwing Energy project as a win for Illinois’ clean tech economy, reinforcing the state’s leadership in industrial decarbonization.