Google Invests $9 Billion in Virginia for AI and Cloud Infrastructure Expansion

Google to invest additional $9 billion in Virginia data centers

Google is investing an additional $9 billion in Virginia through 2026 to enhance cloud and AI infrastructure across the state, marking the latest in a series of big tech investments in U.S. data centers. The money will go toward building a new data center in Chesterfield County and expanding existing campuses in Loudoun and Prince William counties, the company said Wednesday in a blog post. A slew of major technology companies are rushing to build data centers in the U.S., citing a need to sustain the massive AI boom. They're also showing that they are making investments domestically amid President Donald Trump's nationalist policies to propel the U.S. to the forefront of the global AI race. Google's commitment to expanding AI infrastructure follows similar commitments from other technology companies, with Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet and Meta expected to spend hundreds of billions this year altogether, much of it on AI-related expenditures. Google raised its annual capital expenditures guidance by $10 billion to $85 billion in its last quarterly earnings report. It can take as long as seven years to power up a new data center in Virginia, which is home to many of them. The company has not committed to a timeline for its Chesterfield data center to be operational, a spokesperson said in an email, adding that data center projects typically take 18 to 24 months to complete. Dominion Energy will be its power partner. Google framed its decision as an investment in Virginia. It is also working with local partners in the state on solutions for growing energy capacity demand, including efficiency programs and innovation. The company also committed $1 billion on Aug. 6 to enable all Virginia-based college students to have access to the Google AI Pro plan and AI training for a year, free of cost. Meta's data center expansion in rural Louisiana is going to cost around $50 billion, according to Trump, and JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group are leading a loan of more than $22 billion to support Vantage Data Centers' plan to build a massive data-center campus. The data centers in the U.S. have largely been concentrated in northern Virginia, nicknamed "Data Center Alley," since the initial cloud buildout in the early 2000s. Loudoun County, the wealthiest county in the U.S. and home to two of Google's data centers, is at the center of the current boom.

Google Commits $9 Billion To Build AI Super Infrastructure In Virginia After Reportedly Inking $10 Billion Cloud Deal With Meta - Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG), Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN)

Alphabet Inc.'s GOOG GOOGL Google has deepened its artificial intelligence and cloud ambitions with a $9 billion investment in Virginia infrastructure by 2026, following reports of a $10 billion cloud services deal with Meta Platforms Inc. META. Google Bets Big On AI Data Centers On Wednesday, CEO Sundar Pichai announced that the tech giant will invest heavily in AI and cloud infrastructure across Virginia, including a new data center in Chesterfield County and expansions in Loudoun and Prince William counties. "We're investing $9B in Virginia through 2026 for AI and cloud infrastructure in the state," Pichai said on X, formerly Twitter. The company said it is collaborating with local partners to expand energy capacity and improve efficiency as AI workloads grow. See Also: Elon Musk Loses $34 Billion As Tesla Sheds $153 Billion Amid Feud With Trump -- Here's How The Billionaire's Fortune Has Fared So Far In 2025 AI Training, Education Initiatives Alongside the infrastructure build-out, Google is committing $1 billion to AI skills development. All Virginia college students will receive free access to the Google AI Pro plan for one year, while local residents can join the "Virginia Has Jobs" AI Career Launch Pad program. Institutions such as the University of Virginia, Brightpoint Community College and Northern Virginia Community College are part of the Google AI for Education Accelerator, aimed at preparing students for AI-driven industries. Meta, Oracle Deals Boost Google Cloud's Momentum The Virginia investment follows reports that Meta struck a six-year, $10 billion agreement to run AI workloads on Google Cloud. The deal will reportedly support Meta's Llama AI models and generative AI tools across Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. Separately, Oracle Corp. ORCL has also announced a partnership to integrate Google's Gemini AI models into Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. Google Cloud Growth Accelerates The investment underscores Google's push to narrow the gap with Amazon.com, Inc.'s AMZN Web Services and Microsoft Corporation's MSFT Azure. In July, Alphabet reported second-quarter revenue of $96.43 billion, beating Wall Street estimates, with Google Cloud revenue climbing to $13.62 billion from $10.35 billion a year earlier. Price Action: On Wednesday, Alphabet Inc.'s Class A shares edged up 0.16%, while Class C shares rose 1.13%, according to Benzinga Pro data. Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings show GOOGL sustaining a strong upward trajectory across short, medium and long-term trends. More detailed performance data is available here. Read Next: Apple May See Fewer Searches In Safari, But Google CEO Sundar Pichai Insists AI Is Fueling Overall Query Growth: 'Far From A Zero-Sum Game' Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Photo courtesy: MNAphotography on Shutterstock.com AMZNAmazon.com Inc$229.340.10%Stock Score Locked: Want to See it? Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock - anytime. Reveal Full ScoreEdge RankingsMomentum75.64Growth91.86Quality60.67Value51.42Price TrendShortMediumLongOverviewGOOGAlphabet Inc$208.500.14%GOOGLAlphabet Inc$207.680.10%METAMeta Platforms Inc$750.030.35%MSFTMicrosoft Corp$508.740.39%ORCLOracle Corp$235.44-0.16%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

Google is investing an additional $9 billion in Virginia through 2026 in cloud and AI infrastructure

Alphabet Inc. is a holding company organized around 6 areas of activities: - operation of a web-based search engine (Google). Additionally, the group runs a video hosting and broadcasting site (YouTube) as well as a free on-line messaging service (Gmail); - development and production of home automation solutions (Nest Labs): Wi-Fi networks synchronized with the control programs for thermostats, smoke detectors and security systems; - research and development into biotechnology (Calico): dedicated to treating aging and degenerative diseases; - research into artificial intelligence (Google X); - investment services: management of an investment fund devoted to young businesses that operate in the new technology sector (Google Ventures) and an investment fund intended for already developed companies (Google Capital); - operation of a fiber optic internet access network infrastructure (Google Fiber). Net sales are distributed geographically as follows: the United States (48.7%), Americas (5.8%), Europe/Middle East/Africa (29.2%) and Asia/Pacific (16.3%).

Alphabet: Google to invest $9bn in Virginia

Google, Alphabet's main subsidiary, announced on Thursday its intention to invest some $9bn in the state of Virginia by 2026 to strengthen its artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud capabilities. Through its CEO Sundar Pichai the internet giant announced on X that its plans would involve building a new data center in Chesterfield County and expanding existing sites in Loudoun and Prince William counties. Google explains that it is working in parallel with local partners to meet its growing energy needs. Beyond infrastructure, Google has decided to allocate another $1bn to artificial intelligence (AI) training programs, which will give all students at Virginia universities and colleges free access to the Google AI Pro plan and training modules for one year. The University of Virginia, Brightpoint Community College, and Northern Virginia Community College will form the first cohort of the Google AI for Education program.