The Al Gore affect on the environment continues to play itself out. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Google is going green. Or at least, greener.

Over the next several years, the tech giant and its foundation will invest tens of millions of dollars in renewable energy research and development; it will also invest in renewable energy companies. Part of the plan also includes building solar power plants.

The motive? Start with this little statistic from the article:

"Google officials decline to say just how much power its data centers use to run its vast Internet search site and its other businesses.

But by some estimates, the company spends more than $2 million per month on electricity to power its network of an estimated 450,000 computer servers."

We're sure the greater good figures somewhere in there as a motivation, too.

If you're looking to do your part to address the inconvenient truth, check out these web hosts that are already green:

• WebCtel – Solar
• SolarWebWorks – Solar
• EcoSky – Solar & wind
• The Green Web Host – Mixed sources, mostly wind I think
• Locomotive Media – Wind
• Elfon – Wind
• SustainableMarketing – Wind
• Aiso - Solar

Hat tip to TreeHugger.