What was announced
Google has confirmed the construction of a new data center in Texas that will use an "advanced air‑cooling technology" aimed at minimizing fresh water consumption. According to the company, water will be used only for the campus’s critical needs, such as kitchens, and not for the primary server cooling systems.
The project is part of a two‑year investment program worth $40 billion in the state. As part of this strategy, Google also reports contracts with energy providers that would add about 7,800 MW of new clean capacity to Texas’s power system.
Why it matters
The technical shift—from water cooling to efficient air‑based solutions—reduces the risk of depleting local water resources, especially in regions subject to periodic drought. At the same time, large data centers are major electricity consumers; adding thousands of megawatts has a direct impact on the supply‑and‑demand balance and on prices for end consumers.
For Ukraine this is an important signal: digital infrastructure during wartime and reconstruction must be planned with resource resilience in mind—energy and water—and coordinated with the development of renewables and transmission infrastructure.
Opposition and risks
The announcement came against the backdrop of growing resistance from local communities to large data centers. Critics fear higher electricity tariffs, increased greenhouse gas emissions (if new generation is not sufficiently clean), and potential environmental problems related to water quality near the infrastructure.
In the past, projects by hyperscale companies have sparked local scandals and questions about water quality control—cases of elevated nitrate concentrations and other incidents have led communities to demand transparent environmental assessments and monitoring.
"Water will be used only for the campus’s critical needs, such as kitchens, and not for server cooling systems"
— Google press office
Lessons for Ukraine
1) The digital economy’s infrastructure must be built with resource security in mind: energy + water + reserves. 2) Contracts for additional capacity should include guarantees of clean generation to avoid local spikes in emissions and price increases. 3) Transparent environmental monitoring and community engagement are key to maintaining a social license to operate for large facilities.
Now the question for partners and regulators: will large investments in digital infrastructure become a source of sustainable development and energy resilience, or an additional burden on local communities? The answer depends not only on the technologies but on the rules of the game and on enforcement.
