ARLINGTON, Va. – The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) today announced that Google, a global leader in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and consumer electronics, has joined the more than 300 member electroindustry organization as a new Associate Member, reflecting the electrical manufacturing industry’s focus on digital, connected, and intelligent electrical solutions. 

This partnership promises the pairing of Google’s expertise in large-scale infrastructure development and grid integration with NEMA members’ focus on data center and AI deployment as well as smart grid, building, and industrial infrastructure technologies. 

Google’s membership augments NEMA’s ongoing efforts to deploy products and systems that operate efficiently, sustainably, and in partnership with the communities they serve while creating high-quality jobs that strengthen local economies.  

“Google’s membership demonstrates the critical convergence of digital infrastructure and electrical innovation,” said NEMA President and CEO Debra Phillips. “Data centers are among the most demanding electrical environments in the modern economy, and Google’s leadership in this space will be invaluable as we develop the standards and frameworks that power AI and digital infrastructure now and for decades to come. We look forward to collaborating with Google, other hyperscalers, and digital solutions providers to ensure our electrical systems can meet the energy demands of next-generation computing.” 

Google’s addition comes at a pivotal moment. NEMA is in the process of developing standards for the data center sector – including a guide for Data Center Design Considerations for Energy Storage Systems – that will define best practices for designing and operating data centers’ electrical infrastructure. 
 
“The future of innovation—from AI to cloud computing—depends on the convergence of digital technology and resilient physical infrastructure. Joining NEMA allows us to collaborate directly with the manufacturers who are building the electrical backbone of this new era, ensuring that the grid and data centers of tomorrow are as smart, efficient, and reliable as the services they power,” said Ellen Zuckerman, Head of Google’s Energy Market Development for the Americas. 

NEMA members manufacture the electrical equipment that powers, protects, and connects data centers, devices that comprise approximately 33% of the total spend to build a typical AI data center in the U.S., according to a NEMA analysis.