Google announced Friday afternoon that it will invest $40 billion in Texas. Google stated that the funds will support new cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and energy infrastructure across the state, adding that new data centers will be developed in Armstrong and Haskell counties.
“This is an unprecedented investment in the future of our great state,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott said in a statement.
“Texas is a hub for artificial intelligence development, where businesses can combine innovation with a growing energy sector. Google’s $40 billion investment in Texas is Google’s largest investment in any state and will support our state’s energy efficiency and workforce development.”
Senator John Cornyn stated that Google’s historic investment in the Lone Star State (Texas) demonstrates the state’s growing status as a technology hub.
Corning said, “From our commitment to streamlining red tape and encouraging innovation to our talented workforce, there’s no better place to do business than the Lone Star State. I look forward to seeing the positive impact Google will have on our state in the years to come.”
Of the three new data centers Google is building, one will be located in Armstrong County, and the other two will be located in Haskell County.
Google stated it will continue investing in its existing Midlozian and Dallas campuses as part of its global network of 42 cloud regions, which businesses and organizations “leverage to build and scale their AI solutions.”
The Haskell County data center will be built directly next to a new solar and battery storage plant, creating an industrial park in partnership with Intersect and TPG Rise Climate.
Google stated that the three new data centers will utilize advanced air-cooling technology. The company also announced a $2.6 million investment to help the Texas Water Traders create and improve up to 1,000 acres of wetlands along the Trinity-San Jacinto estuary.
Google will add gigawatts of power to the Texas grid and enhance water security.
Google stated that to date, it has added more than 6,200 megawatts of “net new energy generation and capacity” to the Texas grid through power purchase agreements with other energy developers, namely AES, Enel North America, Intersect, and X-Elio.
The company stated that as part of the Trinity River-San Jacinto Estuary Wetlands project, it will deliver approximately 300 million gallons of fresh water annually to southeastern Texas.
Google also stated it will provide over $2 million to support Texas agriculture, including regenerative agriculture projects in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and irrigation projects in the High Plains region.
The company stated that funding from the Google.org Artificial Intelligence Opportunity Fund will increase the number of apprentices in the state and integrate AI into training curricula. Google said it will train more than 1,700 apprentices in the state by 2030.
Google stated it has partnered with key sectors in the state to responsibly use and adopt AI and will provide $7 million in grants to support the state's AI initiatives in healthcare, energy, and education.
