Amanda Peterson Corio, Google's global head of data centre energy, says AI's rising electricity needs could also create opportunities to improve power grids. Flexible computing workloads can ease peak demand, support reliability and help limit costly infrastructure upgrades.
Google's rapid expansion of artificial intelligence is creating a pressing question for the energy industry: how can data centres secure more electricity without placing additional strain on power grids? Amanda Peterson Corio, the company's global head of data centre energy, is working on an approach that could turn some of these energy-hungry facilities into more flexible participants in the electricity system.
Rather than treating data centres solely as consumers of power, Google is exploring how their electricity use can be adjusted to help utilities manage periods of high demand.
Who is Amanda Peterson Corio?
Peterson Corio oversees energy procurement, policy and infrastructure development for Google's global data centres.
She has more than 20 years of experience in energy project finance, development and power procurement, according to the US Department of Energy.
She joined Google more than a decade ago, when its energy team was much smaller. The rapid growth of AI has since changed the scale of the challenge, requiring substantially more electricity and closer coordination with utilities.
In the interview, she said Google had moved towards treating utilities as partners rather than merely power suppliers, with an emphasis on planning infrastructure for decades rather than meeting only immediate demand.
How AI data centres could help the Grid
One of Google's key approaches is demand response, which allows data centres to reduce or shift some electricity consumption when the grid comes under pressure.
Not every computing task needs to happen immediately. Google can postpone selected machine-learning workloads or move them to another location, reducing demand at a particular site without disrupting essential services.
The company announced agreements with Indiana Michigan Power and the Tennessee Valley Authority in August 2025 to apply this approach to machine-learning workloads. In March 2026, Google said it had signed agreements covering one gigawatt of demand-response capacity with utility partners across the United States.
Why Google is funding new power
Flexibility alone will not meet AI's electricity needs. Google is also working with utilities to bring new generation and storage online while covering infrastructure costs associated with its data centres.
In Minnesota, its agreement with Xcel Energy includes 1,400 megawatts of wind, 200 megawatts of solar and 300 megawatts of long-duration battery storage. Google has also committed to covering new grid infrastructure costs associated with the project.
Peterson Corio told the interviewer that such arrangements could protect households from paying for infrastructure built to serve large technology companies.
The challenge ahead
The approach has limits. Some computing workloads cannot be delayed, and demand response is not available at every site. New generation and transmission infrastructure will remain essential as electricity demand grows.
For Google, the challenge is to expand AI while keeping power reliable and affordable. Peterson Corio's argument is that, with the right planning and investment, data centres can help modernise the grid they increasingly depend on.
About the Author
Trisha Bhattacharya
Trisha Bhattacharya is a Senior Content Producer at Livemint, with over two years of experience covering entertainment news from India and beyond. She spends her days tracking what’s trending, breaking down pop culture moments, and turning fast-moving entertainment stories into sharp, engaging reads that actually make people want to click — and stay. <br> She holds a Master’s degree in English Literature from Lucknow University, a background that shapes her love for layered narratives, strong voices, and stories that linger long after they’re told. Before joining Livemint, Trisha worked with India Today as an entertainment journalist and film critic. There, she reviewed films, covered industry news, and built a strong foundation in storytelling and cultural analysis. <br> Trisha enjoys working at the intersection of media, culture, and audience interest, always looking for fresh angles and formats. Films, shows, and music are not just her beat but her biggest passion — something that naturally reflects in her writing. Whether it’s cinema, streaming shows, music, or internet trends, she approaches every story with curiosity and intent. <br> Outside the job description, she’s unapologetically passionate about films, shows, and music — sometimes a little too passionate, if you ask her. That enthusiasm often spills into her work, adding personality, urgency, and a touch of chaos that keeps her writing alive. For Trisha, entertainment isn’t just a beat — it’s a language she speaks fluently.