Google's Cerrillos Data Center Project Sparks Controversy Over Environmental Concerns

Google's proposed data center in Cerrillos, Chile has reignited controversy as environmental organizations demand an environmental assessment. The Latin American Observatory of Environmental Conflicts (OLCA) and the Community Socio-Environmental Movement for Water and Territory (Mosacat) argue that the project should enter the Environmental Impact Assessment System (SEIA), citing concerns over potential impacts on the Central Santiago Aquifer.

The initiative, valued at $200 million, aims to develop on a 23-hectare site in Cerrillos. However, OLCA and Mosacat point out that this is not a new project but rather a materially identical initiative that was previously evaluated and partially annulled by the Second Environmental Court.

The court's decision, dated February 26, 2024, concluded that the evaluation lacked sufficient data to rule out significant impacts on the aquifer. The organizations argue that Google is attempting to bypass this ruling by presenting the project as 'new' rather than a modification of the previously evaluated initiative.