Google’s $15B data center project sparks excitement and concern in small Missouri town
Google's $15 billion data center project in New Florence, Missouri, is underway, sparking both economic excitement from state leaders and concerns from residents. Locals worry about environmental impacts, particularly water usage, and the significant changes to their rural community. Google claims the facility will use air-cooling technology to limit water use and has committed to covering electricity infrastructure costs.
Pre-construction work has begun on Google's $15 billion data center campus in New Florence, Montgomery County, Missouri. Governor Mike Kehoe heralded the investment as the largest in state history, predicting thousands of construction jobs and hundreds of permanent positions. This significant development is located near the I-70 and Highway 19 interchange, adjacent to another data center project by Amazon Data Services.
While state and Google officials emphasize economic growth, some New Florence residents express frustration and fear over the project's potential impact. Longtime residents like Wilbur Hartsell and Jessie Stratton voice concerns about environmental effects, specifically water consumption, despite Google's public affairs manager Trystine Payfer stating the facility will use air-cooling for domestic water use only and plans to replenish more water than it consumes. Residents also worry about the loss of their rural community's character and the broader impact on utility infrastructure and energy costs. Google states it will fully cover the cost of project-related electricity and infrastructure and has announced a $20 million Energy Impact Fund for surrounding counties.