Google Eyes Data Center Plans in Water-Scarce Lea County

Google has announced its plans to explore building a data center in Lea County, New Mexico. The tech giant's blog post did not provide specific details about the project but stated that it aims to be 'transparent and start our conversation with the community early'. According to Google, many details remain outstanding.

The company set up a website for the project at leacountydatacenter.com, which provides some information on the potential development. The site mentions that water use during construction will average more than 900,000 gallons daily and that the energy source is 'likely to be a mix' of solar, wind, batteries, and gas-powered resources.

Tyson Pierce, chair of the Lea County Board of County Commissioners, expressed concerns about data center developments due to environmental concerns such as water insecurity. The commission has adopted specific guidelines for data centers in the area, including requirements for annual water use reports and separate amounts for cooling, landscaping, on-site power generation, plumbing, and other uses.