Googles $15B data center is a huge investment in Missouri

Google is undertaking pre-construction work on a new $15 billion data center in Montgomery County, Missouri, a project that is poised to be one of the largest private investments in the state's history. The facility will be located on 934 acres at the intersection of Interstate 70 and Highway 19, near the town of New Florence, approximately 20 miles west of Warrenton. This site is immediately adjacent to an Amazon data center that is already under construction, with the two projects together encompassing nearly 2,000 acres. Google anticipates that the development will generate thousands of construction jobs and hundreds of permanent positions.

However, some local residents have expressed concerns about the long-term environmental impacts, particularly regarding the extensive water usage typically associated with data centers and its potential effect on local wells. Google has addressed these concerns by stating that its facility will employ air cooling technology to significantly limit water consumption, describing it as "kitchen level." The company also affirmed its commitment to cover all electricity costs and direct infrastructure expenses for the project. Additionally, Google announced a $20 million energy fund aimed at helping to reduce utility bills for area households. A Montgomery County hearing is scheduled for June 8th to review Google's proposal for a 70% tax abatement for the project.