The key facts

  • Google is investing $17 billion in its first data center in Wyoming (Laramie County)
  • The 702 MW fuel cell installation with CCS is the largest planned project of its kind
  • Google's total contracted CCS capacity in the US will reach nearly 1 GW

Investment and partners

Google has announced long-term investments of $17 billion to build its first data center in the state of Wyoming, Anadolu reports. The project's partners in Laramie County are Tallgrass Energy, Black Hills Energy, American Electric Power (AEP) and Related Digital.

Power supply and carbon capture

Under a contract with AEP, the facility will receive a 702 MW commercial fuel cell installation with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology — the largest planned project of its kind. The natural gas fuel cells will be manufactured in the US by Bloom Energy, while Tallgrass will permanently store the captured emissions at its Eastern Wyoming Sequestration Hub. The new agreement brings Google's total contracted CCS capacity in the country to nearly 1 gigawatt.

Water, electricity and taxes

The company noted that the data center will use air cooling to reduce the strain on local water resources, and it will receive electricity from gas generators operated by Tallgrass and Black Hills Energy. According to the company's estimate, the investment will bring hundreds of millions of dollars in local property taxes to Laramie County and School District 1.