Kehoe, Google tout $15 billion investment to accompany data center
By: Erika McGuire
HIGH HILL, Mo. (KMIZ) -- Gov. Mike Kehoe and leaders from Google unveiled a data center project Wednesday that includes a $15 billion infrastructure investment from the tech giant.
Kehoe joined local officials and Google executives at the Laborers and Contractors Training Center in High Hill on Wednesday afternoon. Speakers touted the jobs the project will bring and sought to dismiss concerns about data centers' use of electricity and water resources.
"This data center will create thousands of construction jobs as it is being built and hundreds of full-time jobs once it is operational," said Ruth Porat, Alphabet and Google president and chief investment officer. Each of those hundreds of jobs will create nine others, she said.
The new investment comes as residents in Montgomery County have expressed concerns over data centers since they are known to use a large amount of energy and water.
However, state leaders say the facility will operate differently than others.
"This is an air cooled facility so the only water usage will be from kitchens and bathrooms," Public of Affairs Manager for the state of Missouri Trystine Payfer said.
Kehoe said the investment came with a commitment from Google to build up local infrastructure and expand energy affordability programs.
Google also announced a $20 million energy impact fund to support programs to drive down monthly energy bills to households in Missouri.
"Not only are we paying for own infrastructure and services we need to fund this facility we are paying a premium on top of that to put down pressure on peoples rates to make sure we are negativity affecting any rate payer," Payfer added.
The $15 billion announcement comes as construction is underway on an Amazon Web Services Data Center on Hudson Road near New Florence. The Google Data Center Campus is off Interstate 70 on Tree Farm Road.
Google's data center will be about 900 acres and will have to buildings along with a hub.
Payfer says Montgomery County was picked as a location due to several factors.
"Cost, effectiveness, reliability and community fit and this region is situated perfectly, we have a great talent pool, strong community partners and a excited community," She said.
"Project Spade" is expected to bring in over 2,000 construction jobs and hundreds of full-time position once the facility is complete.
Kehoe said the project is about connectivity and creating jobs for Missouri families.
"The county has done a great job addressing those concerns, there has been a lot of misinformation, google is committed to making sure they understand faces go with these jobs, people and families go with these investments," Kehoe said.
Project Spade, a codename for the Google data center campus, obtained two permits under Kinetic Site Ventures LLC that were issued in February of this year.
The permits are for data center complexes, with additional permits expected as the project continues.
The project is currently in the pre-construction phase and is set to be completed in the next two years.
