Mayor's Resilient Lincoln Roundtable Meeting: August 6, 2026
The City of Lincoln hosted a Resilient Lincoln Roundtable meeting where Google presented on its data center operations in north Lincoln. The mayor emphasized a cautious approach to data center development, having previously rejected a second data center proposal due to resource concerns. She stated that the city is not looking to add any more data centers for the foreseeable future, prioritizing resources for community growth. Google representatives discussed their commitment to local economy, environmental protections, and transparent water and energy use, including a goal for 100% carbon-free energy.
The Mayor's Resilient Lincoln Roundtable Meeting on August 6, 2026, focused on Google's data center operations in Lincoln, Nebraska, and the city's approach to such developments. Mayor Gayler Baird explained her administration's cautious stance, noting that while the current Google data center, initiated under a previous administration, was completed as planned, a proposal for a second data center from another tech company was rejected due to significant concerns about water and energy consumption. The mayor declared that the city is not looking to add any more data centers to Lincoln for the foreseeable future, aiming to allocate resources for new neighborhoods, schools, green spaces, and small businesses.
Google's Public Affairs Manager, Trent Fellers, a former Lincoln City Council member, presented alongside other Google experts on site operations, energy strategy, and water stewardship. They detailed Google's commitment to the local economy through jobs, tax revenue, and community investments. The company emphasized its efforts to increase efficiency, pay for 100% of the power used, and achieve 24/7 carbon-free energy through a blended approach with ALES and investments in wind and solar projects.
Anthony Giovannone, Google's Global Lead for Water Supply & Infrastructure, outlined the company's water stewardship goals, including replenishing more water than consumed by 2030 and modernizing water infrastructure. He confirmed that Google's Lincoln data centers consumed 732 million gallons in 2025 but achieved 914 million gallons of replenishment in Nebraska, making them water positive in the state. Google has invested in infrastructure in Lincoln, including extending sewer lines, connecting pressure zones, and funding a separate non-contact cooling water treatment facility discharging to Salt Creek. They are also exploring future projects like aquifer storage and recovery.
During the Q&A, concerns were raised about water usage during a 10-year drought and the environmental impact of data centers. Google reiterated its payment for all power and infrastructure, its long-term commitment to carbon-free energy, and its various water replenishment projects. The discussion also touched upon the number of full-time employees post-construction and the state's LB1010 requiring community benefit agreements, which Google is evaluating for implementation.