Santiago, Chile – Googlehas announced it will scrap its plans to build a $200 million datacenter in Santiago, Chile, after facing significant backlash over environmental concerns. The decision marks a major setback for the tech giant’s expansion plans in the region.
Thecompany’s decision comes after a local environmental court partially overturned a 2020 permit allowing the construction of the data center. The court ruled that Alphabet,Google’s parent company, must revise its application to consider the impact of climate change.
The project, initially approved in early 2020, had faced strong opposition from residents and local officials who feared the data center wouldstrain the capital’s already depleted water supply. Chile has been grappling with a severe drought for over a decade, and data servers require millions of liters of water annually for cooling.
We will no longer pursue the project permit for the data centerinstallation in the Cerrillos community, which was initially submitted and approved in 2020, Google stated in a statement released on Tuesday. A new process will be initiated in due course for a project using air-cooled technology at this location.
The decision to abandon the project highlights the growing scrutiny of data centers’ environmental impact. Critics argue that these facilities consume vast amounts of energy and water, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and exacerbating water scarcity in already stressed regions.
The proposed data center in Santiago was particularly controversial due to its location in a semi-arid area with limited water resources. Residents expressed concerns about the potential impact onthe local aquifer, which provides drinking water to the surrounding communities.
The court’s ruling in February emphasized the need for Google to address the environmental risks associated with the project. The company’s decision to withdraw its application suggests that it recognized the significant challenges in securing approval for the data center in its current form.
Google’s commitment to using air-cooled technology in its future plans indicates a shift towards more sustainable data center designs. Air-cooled systems require less water for cooling compared to traditional water-cooled systems, potentially reducing the environmental footprint of these facilities.
However, the effectiveness of air-cooled systems in arid climates like Chile remainsto be seen. The company will need to demonstrate that its new approach can mitigate the risks of water scarcity and ensure the project’s environmental sustainability.
The decision to scrap the Santiago data center project underscores the increasing importance of environmental considerations in the tech industry. As companies like Google expand their operations globally, they face growing pressure toaddress the environmental impact of their infrastructure.
The outcome of Google’s revised plans for a data center in Santiago will be closely watched by environmental groups and local communities alike. The company’s ability to demonstrate its commitment to sustainable practices will be crucial for securing public support and ensuring the long-term viability of itsoperations in Chile.
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