Evaluation, public comment underway for Google's Little Rock data center

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Little Rock District, has initiated a public notice and evaluation period for a proposed Google data center in Southeast Little Rock, near the Sweet Home community. Jay Townsend, a spokesman for the Corps, stated that their evaluation of the application is ongoing and will consider factors such as environmental impact and cultural significance, though the goal is to approve the application rather than deny it. The data center project would feature five industrial buildings totaling 1.43 million square feet, plus two office/support buildings, and is projected to consume 100 megawatts of power, equivalent to the electricity usage of all households in Little Rock. Jay Chesshir, CEO of the Little Rock Regional Chamber, expressed enthusiasm for Google's involvement, highlighting the anticipated economic advantages including new tax revenue, jobs, and opportunities to attract other businesses. State Rep. Denise Jones Ennett, who represents the area, has previously voiced skepticism about data centers due to environmental concerns. However, Chesshir affirmed his confidence in Google's commitment to responsible development. The Army Corps of Engineers is accepting public comments on the project through May 1st, with the overall evaluation continuing beyond that date. Google, which is also developing a data center in West Memphis, did not provide a comment.