Columbia County Nears Deal with Google on $17 Billion Data Center
A landmark agreement for Google's $17 billion data center project in Columbia County, Georgia is nearing completion. The Economic Development Authority approved a memorandum of understanding in August 2026, paving the way for the massive investment.
The deal will generate approximately $40 million per year for seven years, with $5 million dedicated to homestead property tax relief programs for local residents. This could potentially cover the entire cost of homestead property taxes currently received by the county, which stands at around $25 million annually.
The Google data center will be built in two major sites: White Oak and near Pumpkin Center residential areas. The agreement includes strict noise and buffer requirements, with a hard noise ceiling of 65 decibels across all facilities and a 500-foot buffer zone between any facility and residential areas.