The construction of $122bn data center projects by Google and Amazon in Montgomery County, Missouri face fierce opposition. Google and Amazon are building massive data centers this summer on opposite sides of Interstate 70 in Montgomery County. The move is sparking a range of reactions from approval and curiosity to outright hostility. The data centers together cover 1,900 acres and run along I-70 east of New Florence and west of High Hill.
Amazon Web Services’ Project Green is north of the interstate, and Google’s Project Spade is visible to the south from I-70. Moreover, Project Spade is replacing a tree farm that is moving to Jonesburg. Projects like these are increasingly being built to store and process digital data. This include websites and email to streaming, cloud storage and more recently, artificial intelligence services. Missouri has 91 active data centers of varying sizes and uses, and at least 14 are currently in development. Another major project that is causing tension among residents is Project Jupiter in New Mexico, a $165 billion project. Residents are worried that the water needed to run the data center will cause shortage for agricultural activities in the area.
Outlook on the Data Center Projects by Google and Amazon in Missouri
Amazon’s “Project Green” is a massive, multi-phase hyperscale data center campus in Missouri. The project features an estimated total capital investment of up to $35 billion and is expected to cover roughly 1,000 acres. Once complete, it will eventually house up to 21 data center buildings. On the other hand, Google’s Project Spade is a massive hyperscale data center campus also under construction in the region. The project has an initial announced investment of $15 billion.
Furthermore, according to Montgomery County cost/benefit analyses, total investments over the life of the project may scale up to $87.5 billion in equipment. However, despite advancements on Project Green by Amazon and Project Spade by Google, opposition is mounting, fast.
Opposition to data centers is not universal. However, it is becoming more common in Missouri with mixed results. Although the two in Montgomery County received official approval, a proposal in Festus was met with angry residents. The locals tossed four city council members out of office and started a plan to recall the mayor. They are frustrated on the environmental impacts the projects bring and the resources needed to ensure operations such as water and electricity use.
Project Factsheet:
- Project Name: Project Green (Amazon Web Services) and Project Spade (Google)
- Location: Montgomery County, Missouri, USA
- Estimated Combined Investment Value: Up to $122 billion
- Project Type: Hyperscale Data Center Campuse
Timeline
- Construction activities are scheduled to begin during summer 2026
- Both projects have received official approvals from local authorities
- Development plans were announced as part of expanding AI and cloud infrastructure demand
- Community discussions and opposition have intensified as construction approaches
Site & Scale
- Combined project footprint covers approximately 1,900 acres along Interstate 70
- Amazon’s Project Green occupies roughly 1,000 acres north of I-70
- Google’s Project Spade is located south of I-70 and replaces a former tree farm
- Project Green could ultimately accommodate up to 21 data center buildings
Key Stakeholders
- Amazon Web Services
- Montgomery County officials and economic development authorities
- Local residents and community advocacy groups
Investment Outlook
- Amazon’s Project Green represents an estimated investment of up to $35 billion
- Google’s Project Spade includes an initial investment commitment of $15 billion
- County analyses suggest Google’s equipment investments could eventually reach $87.5 billion
- The projects are expected to contribute substantially to Missouri’s growing data center sector
Challenges and Opposition
- Residents have raised concerns regarding environmental impacts and resource consumption
- Water usage and electricity demand remain major points of public debate
- Opposition to data center developments is increasing across Missouri communities
- Similar concerns in other Missouri cities have resulted in political backlash against local officials
Current Status
- Construction preparations for both campuses are advancing
- Amazon and Google continue moving forward with approved development plans
- Public opposition remains active despite project approvals
- Missouri currently hosts 91 active data centers, with at least 14 additional projects under development
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