Reviewed by: Amelia Pilgrim
[NEW] Google announces $1.5B investment to Jackson County data center
Reading time: 3 minutes
On June 15, Google announced a $1.5 billion investment to expand their Jackson County data center, alongside new energy affordability and community education initiatives.
Data centers are immensely important in powering the technologies America relies on, including Google services like Search + Maps, as well as online banking, hospitals and 911 systems.
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What the Jackson County data center means for residents
The data center brings with it thousands of new jobs to stimulate both the local and state economy, and Google is giving it right back through millions of dollars in philanthropy efforts.
Google has pledged to cover 100% of the power they use at the site, as well as the infrastructure costs directly driven by its operations, meaning taxpayers won’t be held responsible for the data center’s operating costs. With this, they also are enacting a $2 million Energy Impact Fund to support programs which help lower monthly utility bills for Jackson County residents.
Google has also made a companywide pledge to responsibly manage water both in and near its data centers in light of claims that such centers use millions of gallons of water daily. In Jackson County specifically, Google has historically supported The Nature Conservancy’s efforts to restore the Paint Rock River Watershed.
$500,000 have also been donated to fund STEM programs for 4th-8th graders in Jackson County School District.
“Sustained investment in local classrooms is vital to helping students identify their strengths and career pathways early. From supporting regional robotics events to funding critical programs like YouScience, Google’s partnership is helping the district transition toward high-tech, future-ready education. This collaboration ensures that local graduates have a clear, direct path to high-demand careers right here in Alabama.”
Jason Davidson, Jackson County School District Superintendent
History of Google in Jackson County + the future
Construction on the data center in Jackson County started in 2018 and operations began in 2019. It was built on the site of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s retired Widows Creek coal plant, which allowed them to utilize existing infrastructure.
Google has committed to being a good neighbor, meaning their new investment will also benefit local business, infrastructure and education:
“Our continued expansion in Alabama is driven by a long-term vision of shared success. By investing heavily in the students, small businesses, and local organizations…Google aims to build a foundation of opportunity that will benefit the region long after construction is complete.”
Thomas Gamble, Jackson County Site Lead
Google also has deep philanthropic ties to Alabama, contributing more than $28 million to our nonprofits since 2009 and over 6,000 volunteer hours since 2016.
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