Google announces $10M to shore up water infrastructure near data centers
Google has announced a $10 million investment into stormwater filtration systems in communities near its data centers, with $4.4 million allocated to Frog Creek Partners for projects along the Chesapeake Bay watershed and Roanoke River. The remaining funds are earmarked for areas including Chesterfield and Botetourt Counties in Virginia, where Google has existing or planned data center developments. This initiative comes as Chesterfield County residents express frustration over a lack of transparency from data center developers.
Google has committed $10 million towards developing stormwater filtration systems in communities hosting its data centers. Approximately $4.4 million of this funding will go to Frog Creek Partners, an environmental technology company based in Wyoming, which will construct these systems in the Chesapeake Bay and Roanoke River watersheds.
Suzie Shin, Google's manager of data center sustainability programs, stated that the remaining $5.6 million is designated for other regions where data centers are operational or planned, specifically mentioning Chesterfield County and Botetourt County in Virginia as target areas. While Google is still evaluating the exact locations for these infrastructure projects and how the additional funds will be distributed, the company aims to align its spending with the priorities of the local communities.
This announcement follows increasing frustration among citizens in Chesterfield County regarding perceived lack of transparency from data center developers. Despite Google's plans for Frog Creek Partners to collaborate with jurisdictions like Chesterfield County, Shin noted that Google had not yet discussed these specific stormwater infrastructure plans with county officials. Chesterfield County's Board of Supervisors previously approved three Google data center projects—Project Peanut, Project Skye, and Project Loch—in 2025 and is scheduled to receive an update at its August 26 meeting.