In a recent announcement, Google revealed its decision to suspend plans for a $200 million data center project in Santiago, Chile, citing environmental considerations. The tech giant had initially secured permits in 2020 to construct the facility in response to the increasing demand for server farms worldwide, driven by the rise of cloud-based technologies and generative AI.
However, following a Chilean court's ruling that partially revoked the project's authorization due to water usage issues, Google declared its intention to reevaluate the development. The company aims to align the project with more stringent environmental standards and modify its water-intensive cooling system to address sustainability concerns.
Emphasizing its commitment to sustainability, Google stated, 'A new process will start from scratch, and the design and management of our data centers will prioritize environmental responsibility.'
Community protests in Chile, a nation grappling with severe drought conditions, raised alarms about the data center's energy and water consumption. The local court's decision to temporarily halt the project underscored worries that the facility could impact Santiago's primary aquifer.
The court expressed apprehension that the cooling requirements of the data center, essential for storing vast amounts of online data, might strain Chile's water resources. The country's ongoing water scarcity crisis, exacerbated by climate change, has fueled public discontent and drawn criticism from local residents and Indigenous groups.
Google did not provide a revised timeline for the project but confirmed that the location would remain unchanged. The company informed Chile's environmental regulator of its decision to pause the permit application process and rework its approach to ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
