Google says it will break ground on Botetourt data center campus in coming months

Google has officially announced its plans to begin construction on a new data center campus in Botetourt County, Virginia, with ground-breaking anticipated in the spring or summer. The tech giant acquired 312 acres at the county's Greenfield industrial park for $14 million last June. The project will feature three data center buildings, each approximately 300,000 square feet, along with associated infrastructure including substations and an office building. Amber Tillman, Google's head of data center public affairs, confirmed that construction is expected to take 18 to 24 months per phase. Google has committed to covering 100% of the project's power costs and has an agreement with the Western Virginia Water Authority to fund necessary water infrastructure. While Google will purchase all power from the Rocky Forge wind farm in Botetourt County, a spokesperson indicated this would not fully cover the data center's power needs. The development has drawn steady local opposition from the Southwest Virginia Data Center Transparency Alliance, which voiced concerns about the financial, health, and environmental impacts, particularly regarding water usage, electricity costs, and land disturbance. Initial water usage estimates from a county-water authority agreement projected up to eight million gallons per day, though Botetourt County Board of Supervisors Chairman Mac Scothorn considers this a "pretty low" probability for typical use. The Army Corps of Engineers has also sought public comment on potential environmental impacts, including deforestation and wetland disruption. The industrial park's zoning was modified in November to permit data centers. Botetourt County Administrator Gary Larrowe emphasized the economic benefits, stating the partnership with Google will secure the community's financial future. Google also pledged $4 million for local projects benefiting county services.