Google has announced a historic $15 billion investment in a new data center development in Missouri’s Montgomery County, drawing significant local concern and environmental scrutiny.
In a Wednesday statement, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe described the project as “more than infrastructure” — emphasizing its potential to connect communities with economic opportunity, workers with quality jobs, and Missouri to the future economy. The facility will span over 900 acres near the Interstate 70 and Highway 19 interchange, one hour west of St. Louis, adjacent to a previously approved Amazon $35 billion data center site.
The project features multi-building campuses utilizing closed-loop, non-evaporative air cooling technology designed to limit water consumption and reduce environmental impact. However, local communities have long raised alarms about data centers, with water usage and electricity demands frequently cited as primary concerns. The St. Charles City Council recently voted to ban such developments within its jurisdiction, reflecting growing tensions in the region.
Montgomery County commissioners approved tax abatements for an Amazon Web Services facility in December 2025, triggering widespread resident opposition. Town halls held earlier that month attracted large crowds of concerned citizens opposing the project. In February, a community group filed a lawsuit alleging violations of Missouri’s Sunshine Law, claiming commissioners failed to disclose sufficient details about water usage for the Amazon data center and held closed-door meetings without transparency. The lawsuit seeks to halt the project until critical information is made public, with a hearing scheduled for June 1.
A local report states the Google initiative will generate thousands of construction jobs and hundreds of permanent positions. The company also pledged $20 million to lower energy costs for residents in Montgomery County. Kehoe highlighted that each direct job at the center would create nine additional community roles, while Google committed to partnering with the Construction Laborers and Contractors Joint Training Fund of Eastern Missouri to train over 2,300 workers across two years.
Ruth Porat, President and Chief Investment Officer of Alphabet and Google, emphasized the project’s focus on workforce development and energy affordability through local partnerships: “This commitment will provide thousands of Missourians with valuable technical and trade skills while supporting energy affordability for residents in Montgomery County and across the state.”
The announcement follows ongoing community resistance to large-scale data center projects in Missouri, underscoring persistent worries about environmental impact and resource allocation amid regional economic ambitions.