At Greenfield Industrial Park, Google revises cooling plan for first Botetourt data center
Google is revising its cooling plans for the first building of its data center campus in Botetourt County, Virginia, switching from water-cooling to air-cooling technology. This change has raised questions about the project's water demand, which is still awaiting approval from the Western Virginia Water Authority. Residents and environmental groups express mixed reactions, with some welcoming the change while others raise concerns about increased noise, air pollution, and electricity usage.
Google announced a significant change to its planned data center campus at Greenfield Industrial Park in Botetourt County, Virginia. The tech giant will now use air-cooling technology for the first of three proposed buildings, deviating from its initial water-cooling design.
This revision has prompted inquiries regarding the project's substantial water demand, which Google had previously set at up to 8 million gallons per day. That request is still pending approval from the Western Virginia Water Authority. Sarah Baumgardner, a spokesperson for the Authority, confirmed that Google has not yet submitted updated figures but anticipates refined numbers as planning progresses.
The community's reaction has been mixed. While some residents reportedly welcomed the shift, others, like Kathryn Hatam of the Southwest Virginia Data Center Transparency Alliance, expressed ongoing concerns. Hatam stated that air cooling could lead to increased noise, air pollution, and higher electricity consumption, urging Google to invest further in renewable energy and minimize the project's overall environmental footprint. Google reaffirmed its commitment to community engagement and responsible resource management, noting it is still evaluating cooling methods for the remaining two buildings.