In its Thursday-signed order, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has sanctioned the bulk purchase and sale of energy by the Delaware-based Google Energy – the new subsidiary of the Internet search giant Google.

On the basis of Google’s December 23-filed application for market-based rate authority, FERC noted that Google Energy “intends to act as a power marketer, purchasing electricity and reselling it to wholesale customers;” thereby identifying and developing opportunities that will help “contain and manage the cost of energy for Google.”

While the FERC order explicitly authorizes Google Energy’s rights “for the sale of energy, capacity, and ancillary services at market-based rates,” it also specifies that neither the electricity generation nor the transmission facilities will be owned or controlled by Google Energy or its affiliates.

Google - which has been long maintaining that it aims at becoming a carbon-neutral company - has been looking to access larger amounts of affordable renewable energy, which will facilitate the production of electricity that is required for its gigantic search-engine domain.

Though it appears as if Google may eventually foray into the energy business, the company’s representative Niki Fenwick told CNET News that, at present, Google has no concrete plans in the energy scenario. However, Fenwick also added that the company may buy and sell electricity “in case it becomes part of our portfolio.”