Google Strengthens Presence in Alabama

JACKSON COUNTY, Ala. — Google announced a new, $1.5 billion investment across 2026 and 2027 in Jackson County to expand its data center campus, alongside new energy affordability and community education initiatives. Google’s called Jackson County home since 2018, and the announcements reinforce the company’s commitment to being a good neighbor through responsibly increasing local infrastructure capacity, scaling energy affordability programs, and supporting thousands of jobs in the region.

Data centers power the technology America relies on — not only providing Google services like Search and Maps, but also online banking, hospitals and 911 systems. Building on Google’s 20-year track record of local partnership in communities across America, the company strives to positively contribute to every community it calls home.

“Strong partnerships between industry and local communities are the foundation of regional prosperity,” said State Senate Majority Leader Steve Livingston. “From funding STEM education initiatives to supporting critical energy affordability programs, Google has consistently demonstrated a deep dedication to Jackson County. This new expansion will undoubtedly generate lasting, positive impacts for local families and businesses alike.”

“Sustainable growth is only possible when a community thrives alongside it,” said Thomas Gamble, Jackson County Site Lead, Google. “Our continued expansion in Alabama is driven by a long-term vision of shared success. By investing heavily in the students, small businesses, and local organizations that form the backbone of Jackson County, Google aims to build a foundation of opportunity that will benefit the region long after construction is complete.

Strengthening Infrastructure and Expanding Energy Affordability
In line with its support for the White House’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge, Google will pay for 100% of the power it uses. When Google builds new data centers, including its Jackson County expansion, it will also cover the infrastructure costs directly driven by its operations.

The campus began operations in 2019 and is located on the site of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s retired Widows Creek coal plant. Construction on this site allowed Google to repurpose existing electric lines and other infrastructure to enhance the data center’s reliability and add clean power to the grid.

To date, Google has contracted to bring more than 300 MW of new generation capacity to the Tennessee Valley region. In 2025, Google, Kairos Power, and TVA announced a historic partnership to supply up to 50 megawatts of advanced nuclear power to Google data centers in Tennessee and Alabama. Beyond bringing new clean energy to the grid, Google also acts as a flexible partner to TVA, using data center demand response to reduce power use during peak demand times and support grid stability during extreme weather events.

To further safeguard energy affordability for communities in Northeast Alabama, Google also announced a $2 million Energy Impact Fund to support programs that drive down monthly energy bills for local families. In partnership with TVA and the Community Action Agency of Northeast Alabama (CAANEAL), the fund will support weatherization and energy efficiency services for local schools and income-qualified households, primarily in Jackson County.

“We are excited to partner with an organization that recognizes the importance of investing in people and communities,” said Luke Laney, Executive Director, Community Action Agency of Northeast Alabama. “This funding will significantly expand our capacity to provide weatherization and energy efficiency services in Jackson County, helping more families lower their utility costs and live in more energy-efficient homes.”

Responsible Water Stewardship
Google recently announced several water stewardship commitments that outline how the company responsibly manages water resources where it builds and operates data centers, ensuring operations don’t come at the expense of the communities it calls home. Google is committed to replenishing more water than it consumes, to help ensure a bright water future whenever it operates. In Jackson County, Google supported The Nature Conservancy’s efforts to restore the Paint Rock River Watershed, a biodiverse area degraded by excess sediment from eroding streambanks. The initiative stabilized three priority eroding sites through revegetation and slope recontouring, which stopped soil displacement and improved water quality and aquatic habitats.

Long-Term Commitment to the Community
Google announced a new $550,000 donation to fund STEM kits for children in grades 4-8 across Jackson County School District. These kits will give local students hands-on learning opportunities to develop new skills and education for the digital future. This builds on the community programs and STEM education Google already provides in Jackson and Dekalb counties, such as robotics events that have engaged more than 1,500 fifth through eighth graders, the Kevin Dukes Career & Innovation Academy, and the YouScience aptitude program for high schoolers.

“Sustained investment in local classrooms is vital to helping students identify their strengths and career pathways early,” said Jason Davidson, Superintendent of Jackson County School District. “From supporting regional robotics events to funding critical programs like YouScience, Google’s partnership is helping the district transition toward high-tech, future-ready education. This collaboration ensures that local graduates have a clear, direct path to high-demand careers right here in Alabama.”

Google has been contributing to Alabama communities long before breaking ground on the data center. This donation is an extension of Google’s commitment to being a supportive, long-term neighbor in Jackson County and across the state. Google’s local impact is accelerated by active community integration, including:

• Contributing more than $28 million since 2009 in direct philanthropic giving by Google and its employees to Alabama nonprofits
• Google employees have volunteered more than 6,000 with Alabama nonprofits since 2016, and leadership engagements with Northeast Alabama Community College, the Scottsboro-Jackson County Port Authority, and the Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce.

Creating Local Jobs and Supporting Economic Opportunity
Google data centers serve as powerful economic engines. This expansion will build on the hundreds of full time jobs the Jackson County data center already supports, and the billions of economic impact the data center has driven in Alabama since 2018. Google is committed to growing its local economic impact through:

• Actively prioritizing local businesses for facility operations—including landscaping, food services, and maintenance firms.
• Driving business for local hotels, restaurants, and small businesses. Over 1,000 contract workers are brought to the site during the construction phase.
• Training more than 130,000 Alabamians in digital skills in collaboration with 150+ organizations, including partnerships with Alabama A&M University, Northeast Alabama Community College, and Wallace State Community College to develop and fund Google Career Certificate programs.

By anchoring Google’s infrastructure growth to tangible investments in generation capacity, energy affordability, and community development, the company is dedicated to being a responsible, long-term neighbor in Jackson County. Learn more about Google’s commitment at datacenters.google and Google in Alabama at g.co/economicimpact/alabama.