Google’s $1B Port of Little Rock data center buildings to cover 1.43 million square feet

Tech giant Google plans to construct a $1 billion data center at the Port of Little Rock, Arkansas, a project known as "Project Boar." The development will encompass five industrial buildings totaling 1.43 million square feet, two office buildings, and an electrical substation, according to documents submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District. The permit application, filed by Willowbend Capital LLC—a front company for Google—under the Clean Water Act, outlines the project's impact, including the filling of approximately 16.8 acres of wetlands. Google intends to offset these impacts by purchasing wetland mitigation credits, with the public comment period for the permit application expiring on April 24. While the application does not detail water or electricity demands, Entergy Arkansas, Inc. plans significant new generation capacity, partly to meet the needs of large customers like data centers. The Little Rock Board of Directors previously approved a memorandum of understanding to sell 380 acres at the Port of Little Rock to Willowbend, subsequently re-zoning the land for heavy industrial use. This agreement includes an annual payment to the city, increasing with additional data centers, and a 30-year property tax abatement of at least 65%. The project, which will be located off Zueber Road east of Harper Road in Sweet Home, is expected to create 50 jobs. Google is also developing data centers in Conway and West Memphis, Arkansas. Local officials and economic development professionals, including Little Rock Port Authority Executive Director Bryan Day, have signed non-disclosure agreements, limiting public discussion about the project. Michael Montfort, incorporator for Willowbend Capital and also involved in a planned Conway data center, has not responded to requests for comment.