Climate
Privacy
Bob Dylan
Drones
Data Centers
AI Governance
2026 Maine Senate Race
Last Update: 08/01/2026 at 3:34 PM EST
Missouri Data Centers Face Local Pushback
Coverage from WRAL, Columbia Missourian, and others
Articles
31
Active Days
67
The Topic
Google and Amazon Web Services are developing large data center projects near New Florence in Montgomery County, Missouri, while residents challenge the approval process and question effects on water supplies, land use, tax incentives, and electricity infrastructure. Google’s planned $15 billion campus is tied to more than one gigawatt of new generation capacity and a $20 million energy assistance fund, while the nearby AWS project faces a lawsuit alleging violations of Missouri’s Sunshine Law. The developments show how major campuses can advance quickly while communities and local governments negotiate transparency, resource impacts, and who pays for supporting infrastructure.
First Article: 05/20/26
Latest Article: 07/25/26
Summary
- Google is planning a $15 billion data center project, while AWS is developing a nearby campus; the two sites together cover about 1,900 acres.
- Google has contracted with Ameren to add more than one gigawatt of generation capacity and announced a $20 million Energy Impact Fund for nearby households.
- AWS expects to use about 49 million gallons of well water annually at its Missouri project, prompting concerns about aquifer availability and impacts on farms and homes.
- Montgomery County residents have organized through groups including Preserve Montgomery County and Save Montgomery County to seek records, challenge approvals, and oppose the projects.
- A lawsuit alleges county officials violated Missouri Sunshine Law requirements in handling public business and agreements related to the AWS development.
- The projects are linked to tax abatements, road and transmission changes, and broader questions about whether local governments or developers should bear infrastructure costs.
- Richmond County, North Carolina offers a contrasting case in which officials selected a phased Amazon campus after reviewing infrastructure, water capacity, and the company’s record of completing similar projects.
History
The biggest update is that the Google project is now explicitly pegged at $15 billion, and the story has broadened to include a separate North Carolina Amazon campus as a comparison point. The core Missouri dispute remains the same, with transparency, water, power, and infrastructure concerns still driving local resistance.
The story now adds concrete implementation and legal details: Google’s energy and infrastructure commitments are more specific, and AWS is now directly tied to a Sunshine Law lawsuit. The framing also sharpens around public transparency and utility planning rather than just general local opposition.
Featured
07-20-2026
Richmond County, North Carolina selected Amazon for a $10 billion phased data center campus, citing available Duke Energy power, transmission, and water capacity, with a first 2027 operations target.
06-14-2026
Residents organized at Montgomery City Public Library meetings in Montgomery County, Missouri, opposing AWS Project Green and Google Project Spade during 2020s construction along I-70.
06-16-2026
Residents in Montgomery County, Missouri, seek public records amid Google and Amazon data center construction near New Florence and Ameren Missouri planning for the Montgomery-Callaway Connector transmission project.
Timeline: 67 Days
Hover over any logo to see coverage summary, click for full article.
Additional Articles
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Preserve Montgomery County filed a March lawsuit as residents in Missouri questioned transparency and approvals for Google Project Spade and a nearby Amazon data center.
Columbia County officials outlined how two planned Google data centers in Harlem, Georgia, could support property-tax relief under House Bill 439 and restrictive covenants.
Google announced a $15 billion data center project for Montgomery County, Missouri on May 22, 2026, supported by Ameren-backed new generation capacity and Senate Bill 4 compliance.
Google announced a $15 billion New Florence, Missouri hyperscale data center investment, pairing advanced air cooling with more than 1 GW of generation contracting and workforce initiatives.
Google announced a $1.5 billion Jackson County, Alabama, data center expansion planned for 2026-2027 alongside TVA power contracts and local energy affordability initiatives.
Google began construction in October on a phased West Memphis, Arkansas data center after land purchases, PILOT-backed bond financing, and industrial rezoning plans.
Amazon announced a $10 billion data center campus for June 15, 2026 in Montgomery County, Missouri, with Ameren Missouri electric service cost coverage and planned community and water-efficiency initiatives.
Google announced a $15 billion New Florence, Missouri data center investment, describing power cost protections under Senate Bill 4 and capacity support with Ameren and Evergy.
Google announced a 1.5 billion expansion for its Jackson County, Alabama data center campus across 2026 and 2027, supported by new power capacity contracts, TVA coordination, and demand response.
Google and Montgomery County officials announced a $15 billion data center near New Florence, with a June 8 hearing scheduled for a planned 70% personal property tax abatement.
Bill Cope urged Montgomery County officials to reject a 25-year, 70% personal property tax abatement for a Google data center near New Florence, Missouri amid rising public opposition and planned transparency legislation.
Google announced a $15 billion Missouri data center near New Florence and sought a proposed 70% equipment property tax abatement as Montgomery County scheduled a June 8 hearing.
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe announced Amazon will build a $10 billion data center in Montgomery County, Missouri, near I-70, with a June 23 public open house scheduled.
Amazon plans a 10 billion dollar data center campus in Montgomery County, Missouri, after December 2025 tax abatement approval, amid a February lawsuit and a June 23 public open house.
⭐⭐⭐
Montgomery County, Missouri residents challenge approvals for Google Project Spade and AWS Project Green after lawsuit filings over Sunshine Law and well-water impacts.
Columbia County, Georgia officials announced Google will operate a White Oak Technology Park data center after years of preparation and amid prior resident opposition.
Google will invest $1.5 billion in expanding its Jackson County, Alabama data center campus while contracting for 300 MW in the Tennessee Valley and targeting up to 50 MW of advanced nuclear power.
Google announced a 15 billion dollar New Florence, Missouri data-center investment during a Montgomery County community celebration, linking major power procurement with air cooling and energy affordability plans.
Google announced a $1.5 billion AI data center expansion in Jackson County, Alabama, amid local concerns about electricity, water, and quality-of-life impacts.
Amazon announced a multi-billion-dollar data center campus in Montgomery County, Missouri, aiming for 138 MW of carbon-free capacity and low-water cooling for AI infrastructure.
Amazon announced a multi-billion-dollar Montgomery County, Missouri data center campus with outside-air cooling, water recycling plans, and planned local infrastructure upgrades.
Amazon announced a $10 billion data center campus in Montgomery County, Missouri, with Ameren Missouri cost allocation, community funding, and water line transfer plans.
Google announced a 15 billion USD data center planned for Montgomery County, Missouri, adjacent to an already approved Amazon 35 billion USD site, under Senate Bill 4 cost responsibility.
Google announced a $15 billion data center in Montgomery County, Missouri, next to an approved Amazon $35 billion facility, with Senate Bill 4 power-cost terms cited.
Amazon announced a 10 billion dollar data center campus for Montgomery City, Missouri, while residents questioned projected water and electricity use.
Google announced a 1.5 billion Jackson County, Alabama data center campus expansion on Monday, alongside power responsibility and local affordability programs.
Google was named sole end-user and operator for the Columbia County Data Center in Georgia in a July 23, 2026 announcement, after a 2025 regional impact filing and ongoing controversy.
About Amazon06-15-2026Amazon announced a multi-billion dollar data center campus in Montgomery County, Missouri, with Ameren Missouri power cost containment and low annual water use.