Google Bets $15 Billion on Missouri Data Center

WASHINGTON, May 22, 2026 – A $15 billion Google data center is headed to Montgomery County, Missouri.

Missouri Gov.Mike Kehoe announced the investment Wednesday. Local officials are already facing backlash over a separate Amazon Web Services data center project currently under development a few miles away near New Florence.

“Google's historic investment in Montgomery County is a testament to Missouri's growing reputation as a premier destination for innovation and next-generation technology,” Kehoe said in a release.

Google will fund both the electricity it consumes and any new infrastructure required for the project, in accordance with Missouri's Senate Bill 4, signed by Kehoe in 2025. The company has contracted to bring more than one gigawatt of new generation capacity to Missouri through a partnership with Ameren.

To address energy costs, Google announced a $20 million Energy Impact Fund to reduce monthly bills for households in Montgomery County and surrounding areas. The company also plans to use advanced air-cooling technology limiting water consumption largely to non-industrial uses.

Ruth Porat , president and chief investment officer of Alphabet and Google, said the company intends to expand its Missouri investments through workforce development and energy affordability programs.

“We look forward to expanding Google's investments in Missouri and helping Missourians benefit from the next wave of American innovation,” Porat said.

Montgomery County commissioners approved tax abatements in December 2025 for the AWS project near New Florence, drawing opposition from residents over transparency and local resource concerns.

A community group later sued, alleging officials violated Missouri's Sunshine Law by withholding information about water usage and failing to provide adequate notice of related meetings. The lawsuit seeks to halt the Amazon project pending further disclosure, with a hearing scheduled for June 1.

The backlash mirrors tensions 90-miles away. Voters in Festus, Missouri ousted every council incumbent in April after officials approved a $6 billion data center project, also citing transparency concerns.

Each direct Google job is expected to support nine additional roles in the surrounding community. The company also plans to train more than 2,300 construction workers, including 1,500 apprentices, over the next two years through a partnership with the Construction Laborers and Contractors Joint Training Fund of Eastern Missouri.

Ryan Poston , Montgomery County presiding commissioner, welcomed the investment.

“This project represents a major step forward in economic development, driving job creation, expanding our tax base to help reduce property tax for local citizens, and creating resilient long-term growth for Montgomery County,” Poston said.