Google confirms Botetourt data center campus

Google has officially confirmed its plans for a data center campus in Botetourt County, Virginia, nearly nine months after the initial land purchase announcement. The company's statement detailed a commitment to responsible digital infrastructure development, focusing on water stewardship, collaborative construction, and local community investment. This confirmation follows escalating local opposition, particularly from Roanoke Valley residents, driven by concerns over the project's substantial water demands, projected to initially be 2 million gallons per day and potentially rising to 8 million gallons. Protests and public comments at a recent Botetourt County Board of Supervisors meeting highlighted calls for greater transparency. In response, Google stated it would fund all necessary water infrastructure and noted a power purchase agreement for the entire output of the Rocky Forge Wind project in Botetourt. Additionally, Google highlighted a $700,000 partnership with environmental advocacy organization Appalachian Voices to fund solar and battery storage resilience hubs in Southwest Virginia, though Appalachian Voices clarified this partnership is separate from their stance on the Botetourt data center. The project still requires federal wetlands permitting from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, state environmental reviews from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and final local county permits from Botetourt County before construction can begin. Botetourt County Administrator Gary Larrowe anticipates the project will generate at least $10 million in annual local taxation per data center.