A $1.5 billion data center expansion is heading to Jackson County, Alabama, as Google accelerates its infrastructure growth in the Southeast. The investment builds on its existing campus operations that began in 2019.
The project expands Google’s footprint at its Jackson County data center campus, which sits on the former Widows Creek coal plant site. The location uses repurposed transmission infrastructure tied to the Tennessee Valley grid.
The expansion strengthens Google’s long-term data center strategy in the Tennessee Valley. It also increases capacity for services like search, maps, cloud tools, and digital infrastructure used by hospitals, banks, and emergency systems.
Jackson County, Alabama remains a key hub in Google’s U.S. infrastructure network. The company says it has already contracted more than 300 megawatts of new generation capacity for the region.
Energy planning
Energy planning is central to the expansion. Tennessee Valley Authority continues to coordinate grid support with Google. The company also participates in demand response programs to reduce electricity use during peak load periods.
Google, Kairos Power, and TVA previously announced plans to deliver up to 50 megawatts of advanced nuclear power to data centers in Tennessee and Alabama.
Energy Impact Fund
The company also launched a $2 million Energy Impact Fund in Northeast Alabama. The program supports weatherization and energy efficiency upgrades for households and schools in Jackson County.
Commitment to the Community
A separate $550,000 donation will fund STEM kits for grades 4–8 in the Jackson County School District. The initiative expands local education programs tied to robotics, digital skills, and career training.
Local education partners include Alabama A&M University, Northeast Alabama Community College, and Wallace State Community College. Google says it has helped train more than 130,000 residents in digital skills across Alabama.
The company reports more than $28 million in philanthropic contributions in the state since 2009. It also says employees have completed thousands of volunteer hours with local organizations.
Jobs
Construction activity at the site typically brings over 1,000 contract workers during peak phases. Google also prioritizes local vendors for services including maintenance, food, and landscaping.
The Jackson County campus continues to grow as a long-term infrastructure and energy project. The expansion links data center development with grid investment, water stewardship, and workforce training programs.
Google’s $1.5 billion expansion in Alabama is part of a broader surge in hyperscale data center investment in the country, alongside Amazon’s newly announced $10 billion campus in Montgomery City, Missouri.
Factsheet: Google Jackson County Data Center Expansion
- Developer: Google
- Location: Jackson County, Alabama
- Investment: $1.5 billion
- Timeline: 2026–2027 (expansion phase)
- Campus start: 2019 (initial operations)
- Site reuse: Former Widows Creek coal plant site
- Primary use: Data center expansion (cloud, search, AI infrastructure support)
- Energy partner: Tennessee Valley Authority
- Clean energy collaboration: Up to 50 MW advanced nuclear program with Kairos Power and TVA
- Grid capacity contracted: 300+ MW in regional generation capacity
- Energy programs: Demand response participation + Energy Impact Fund ($2M)
Community funding:
$550,000 STEM kits donation (grades 4–8)
Education reach: 130,000+ residents trained in digital skills
Philanthropy (since 2009): $28M+ in Alabama
- Construction workforce impact: 1,000+ contract workers during peak construction
- Local focus areas: Energy affordability, STEM education, water stewardship, workforce training
- Water initiative: Paint Rock River Watershed restoration (erosion control and habitat improvement)
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