Is Google hiding a data center project in North San Jose?
Advocates in North San Jose allege that Google is concealing a data center within a proposed research and development lab project. The company denies these claims, stating the facilities are for internal use and do not require a special use permit for data centers. The project, which has significant power capacity, is currently in early stages of review and has raised concerns about transparency and environmental impact among community members.
Advocates and experts are accusing Google of mislabeling a proposed 483,000-square-foot facility in North San Jose as an "R&D lab" when they believe it is, in fact, a data center. The plans for 5079 and 5087 Disk Drive include infrastructure typical of a data center, such as an onsite substation, switching station with three transformers, multiple generator yards, and cooling towers, with a 250-megawatt capacity capable of powering 250,000 homes.
Kelly Abreu, co-founder of Mission Peak Conservancy, expressed concern that Google is hiding the true nature of the project to avoid the stigma and resistance associated with data centers. Shaolei Ren, an electrical engineering professor, noted that a 250-megawatt substation strongly indicates a data center, especially if the R&D involves AI training. Google, however, maintains the facility is for internal lab work to support chip technology engineering and does not require the standard backup power generation of data centers.
Community leaders like Marcos Espinoza, president of Alviso in Action, criticized Google's lack of transparency, calling it a "smack in the face" to the historically disadvantaged North San Jose community. While District 4 Councilmember David Cohen stated his focus is on how the facility will be powered and cooled rather than its label, the City of San Jose plans to use older California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) reports for environmental review, rather than a new one. The project is currently listed on the city's planning website as a "large-energy use project" but not explicitly a data center.