Google invests $10 million in Texas water projects amid data center controversy
Google is investing $10 million in water infrastructure projects across Texas to address concerns about its data centers' high water and power consumption. Critics believe this investment is inadequate, with some local communities actively opposing data center projects and top Republican lawmakers examining the issue. This move is Google's initial effort to mitigate the backlash against its substantial data center development in the state.
Google announced a $10 million investment in water infrastructure projects across Texas, aimed at addressing growing backlash against the significant water and power demands of its expanding data center operations in the state. This initiative marks Google's first public attempt to mitigate concerns from local communities and lawmakers regarding its planned $40 billion investment in Texas data centers. The company has pledged to replenish more water than its data centers consume by 2030 and to publicly report usage figures.
Despite Google's commitment, critics like Perry Fowler, executive director of the Texas Water Infrastructure Network, dismissed the $10 million as "a drop in the bucket" for substantial infrastructure investment. Concerns persist about data centers straining Texas's water resources, particularly given projections that demand could increase 22-fold by 2040, accounting for nine percent of the state's total water consumption. The electric grid is also a point of contention.
Top Republican lawmakers are examining the issue ahead of the next legislative session, while some local communities are actively trying to block data center projects. Google currently operates two data centers in Texas, including one in Midlothian that consumed 182.3 million gallons of water in 2024, with at least six more facilities under development, mostly around Dallas-Fort Worth, and one proposed in Gray County. Ben Townsend, Google's head of infrastructure and sustainability, acknowledged the validity of opposition to data centers, especially from unnamed companies, and expressed hope that Google's transparency could set a standard for others. However, Texas GOP strategist Brendan Steinhauser stated that while Google's efforts are good, they are unlikely to fully quell the varied local opposition.