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[1]
Google says it will rethink its plans for a big data centre in Chile over water worries
Google on Tuesday said it would halt plans to develop a major $200 million data center in Chile to address environmental concerns, a decision reflecting growing worries about the impact of power-thirsty projects around the world. The U.S. technology company first obtained permits in 2020 to construct the vast project in Chile's capital, Santiago, as demand for the server farms skyrocketed across the globe, fueled by a surge in cloud-based technologies and a craze for generative AI. But months after a Chilean court partially reversed the center's authorisation over water usage concerns, Google announced Tuesday that it would revise the project to comply with more stringent environmental requirements and change its water-intensive cooling system. Meta Platforms strikes geothermal energy deal with Sage Geosystems to power U.S. data centres "A new process will start from scratch," Google said in its statement. "Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do, and the way we design and manage our data centers is no exception." Community complaints in the drought-stricken South American nation over the air-conditioned computer farm's energy and water usage sharpened government scrutiny and prompted a local court to temporarily revoke the project's authorisation in February. The Santiago environmental court asked Google to respond to concerns that the data centre could affect Santiago's main aquifer. The court said it was highly possible that cooling the heavy equipment -- which creates the online storage for the data of millions -- could pull from Chile's water resources. The country is experiencing a crippling drought supercharged by climate change, a source of outrage among locals and Indigenous groups. Google didn't provide an updated timeline for the project and said that it would keep the location the same. It said developers had already notified Chile's environmental regulator of the company's decision to pause its permit application process and rethink its strategy. Published - September 18, 2024 09:17 am IST Read Comments
[2]
Google to rethink developing data centre in Chile over water worries
Google on Tuesday said it would halt plans to develop a major USD 200 million data centre in Chile to address environmental grievances, a decision reflecting growing concerns about the impact of the power-thirsty projects around the world. The US technology company first obtained permits in 2020 to construct the vast project in Chile's capital, Santiago, as demand for the server farms skyrocketed across the globe, fuelled by a surge in cloud-based technologies and a craze for generative AI. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp But months after a Chilean court partially reversed the centre's authorisation over water usage concerns, Google announced Tuesday that it would revise the project to comply with more stringent environmental requirements and change its water-intensive cooling system. A new process will start from scratch, Google said in its statement. Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do, and the way we design and manage our data centres is no exception. Community complaints in the drought-stricken South American nation over the air-conditioned computer farm's energy and water usage sharpened government scrutiny and prompted a local court to temporarily revoke the project's authorization in February. The Santiago environmental court asked Google respond to concerns that the data center could affect Santiago's main aquifer. More From This Section JPMorgan in talks with Apple over Goldman credit card partnership: Report Amazon asks employees to return to office five days a week starting next yr Microsoft plans new $60 billion buyback, raises quarterly dividend 10% 8 including Hezbollah members killed in pager explosions in Lebanon, Syria EU chief Von der Leyen to unveil her new team after long and bumpy road The court said it was highly possible that cooling the heavy equipment which creates the online storage for the data of millions could pull from Chile's water resources. The country is experiencing a crippling drought supercharged by climate change, a source of outrage among locals and Indigenous groups. Google didn't provide an updated timeline for the project and said that it would keep the location the same. It said developers had already notified Chile's environmental regulator of the company's decision to pause its permit application process and rethink its strategy. Also Read Google could enable notification syncing across Android devices: Report US justice dept says Google saw ad startup AdMeld as threat and bought it Google's millisecond ad auctions targeted in illegal monopoly claim Even Facebook couldn't compete with Google, says ex-ad chief Boland EU antitrust order to Google's adtech business unlikely for now: Report
[3]
Google says it will rethink its plans for a big data center in Chile over water worries
SANTIAGO, Chile -- Google on Tuesday said it would halt plans to develop a major $200 million data center in Chile to address environmental grievances, a decision reflecting growing concerns about the impact of the power-thirsty projects around the world. The U.S. technology company first obtained permits in 2020 to construct the vast project in Chile's capital, Santiago, as demand for the server farms skyrocketed across the globe, fueled by a surge in cloud-based technologies and a craze for generative AI. But months after a Chilean court partially reversed the center's authorization over water usage concerns, Google announced Tuesday that it would revise the project to comply with more stringent environmental requirements and change its water-intensive cooling system. "A new process will start from scratch," Google said in its statement. "Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do, and the way we design and manage our data centers is no exception." Community complaints in the drought-stricken South American nation over the air-conditioned computer farm's energy and water usage sharpened government scrutiny and prompted a local court to temporarily revoke the project's authorization in February. The Santiago environmental court asked Google respond to concerns that the data center could affect Santiago's main aquifer. The court said it was highly possible that cooling the heavy equipment -- which creates the online storage for the data of millions -- could pull from Chile's water resources. The country is experiencing a crippling drought supercharged by climate change, a source of outrage among locals and Indigenous groups. Google didn't provide an updated timeline for the project and said that it would keep the location the same. It said developers had already notified Chile's environmental regulator of the company's decision to pause its permit application process and rethink its strategy.
[4]
Google says it will rethink its plans for a big data center in Chile over water worries
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) -- Google on Tuesday said it would halt plans to develop a major $200 million data center in Chile to address environmental grievances, a decision reflecting growing concerns about the impact of the power-thirsty projects around the world. The U.S. technology company first obtained permits in 2020 to construct the vast project in Chile's capital, Santiago, as demand for the server farms skyrocketed across the globe, fueled by a surge in cloud-based technologies and a craze for generative AI. But months after a Chilean court partially reversed the center's authorization over water usage concerns, Google announced Tuesday that it would revise the project to comply with more stringent environmental requirements and change its water-intensive cooling system. "A new process will start from scratch," Google said in its statement. "Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do, and the way we design and manage our data centers is no exception." Community complaints in the drought-stricken South American nation over the air-conditioned computer farm's energy and water usage sharpened government scrutiny and prompted a local court to temporarily revoke the project's authorization in February. The Santiago environmental court asked Google respond to concerns that the data center could affect Santiago's main aquifer. The court said it was highly possible that cooling the heavy equipment -- which creates the online storage for the data of millions -- could pull from Chile's water resources. The country is experiencing a crippling drought supercharged by climate change, a source of outrage among locals and Indigenous groups. Google didn't provide an updated timeline for the project and said that it would keep the location the same. It said developers had already notified Chile's environmental regulator of the company's decision to pause its permit application process and rethink its strategy.
[5]
Google says it will rethink its plans for a big data center in Chile over water worries
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) -- Google on Tuesday said it would halt plans to develop a major $200 million data center in Chile to address environmental grievances, a decision reflecting growing concerns about the impact of the power-thirsty projects around the world. The U.S. technology company first obtained permits in 2020 to construct the vast project in Chile's capital, Santiago, as demand for the server farms skyrocketed across the globe, fueled by a surge in cloud-based technologies and a craze for generative AI. But months after a Chilean court partially reversed the center's authorization over water usage concerns, Google announced Tuesday that it would revise the project to comply with more stringent environmental requirements and change its water-intensive cooling system. "A new process will start from scratch," Google said in its statement. "Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do, and the way we design and manage our data centers is no exception." Community complaints in the drought-stricken South American nation over the air-conditioned computer farm's energy and water usage sharpened government scrutiny and prompted a local court to temporarily revoke the project's authorization in February. The Santiago environmental court asked Google respond to concerns that the data center could affect Santiago's main aquifer. The court said it was highly possible that cooling the heavy equipment -- which creates the online storage for the data of millions -- could pull from Chile's water resources. The country is experiencing a crippling drought supercharged by climate change, a source of outrage among locals and Indigenous groups. Google didn't provide an updated timeline for the project and said that it would keep the location the same. It said developers had already notified Chile's environmental regulator of the company's decision to pause its permit application process and rethink its strategy.
[6]
Google Says It Will Rethink Its Plans for a Big Data Center in Chile Over Water Worries
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) -- Google on Tuesday said it would halt plans to develop a major $200 million data center in Chile to address environmental grievances, a decision reflecting growing concerns about the impact of the power-thirsty projects around the world. The U.S. technology company first obtained permits in 2020 to construct the vast project in Chile's capital, Santiago, as demand for the server farms skyrocketed across the globe, fueled by a surge in cloud-based technologies and a craze for generative AI. But months after a Chilean court partially reversed the center's authorization over water usage concerns, Google announced Tuesday that it would revise the project to comply with more stringent environmental requirements and change its water-intensive cooling system. "A new process will start from scratch," Google said in its statement. "Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do, and the way we design and manage our data centers is no exception." Community complaints in the drought-stricken South American nation over the air-conditioned computer farm's energy and water usage sharpened government scrutiny and prompted a local court to temporarily revoke the project's authorization in February. The Santiago environmental court asked Google respond to concerns that the data center could affect Santiago's main aquifer. The court said it was highly possible that cooling the heavy equipment -- which creates the online storage for the data of millions -- could pull from Chile's water resources. The country is experiencing a crippling drought supercharged by climate change, a source of outrage among locals and Indigenous groups. Google didn't provide an updated timeline for the project and said that it would keep the location the same. It said developers had already notified Chile's environmental regulator of the company's decision to pause its permit application process and rethink its strategy. Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
[7]
Google halts plan for $200 million data center in Chile amid concerns over AI-driven power demands
SANTIAGO, Chile -- Google on Tuesday said it would halt plans to develop a major $200 million data center in Chile to address environmental concerns, a decision reflecting growing worries about the impact of power-thirsty projects around the world. The U.S. technology company first obtained permits in 2020 to construct the vast project in Chile's capital, Santiago, as demand for server farms skyrocketed across the globe, fueled by a surge in cloud-based technologies and a craze for generative AI. But months after a Chilean court partially reversed the center's authorization over water usage concerns, Google announced Tuesday that it would revise the project to comply with more stringent environmental requirements and change its water-intensive cooling system. "A new process will start from scratch," Google said in its statement. "Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do, and the way we design and manage our data centers is no exception." Community complaints in the drought-stricken South American nation over the air-conditioned computer farm's energy and water usage sharpened government scrutiny and prompted a local court to temporarily revoke the project's authorization in February. The Santiago environmental court asked Google to respond to concerns that the data center could affect Santiago's main aquifer. The court said it was highly possible that cooling the heavy equipment -- which creates the online storage for the data of millions -- could pull from Chile's water resources. The country is experiencing a crippling drought supercharged by climate change, a source of outrage among locals and Indigenous groups. Google didn't provide an updated timeline for the project and said that it would keep the location the same. It said developers had already notified Chile's environmental regulator of the company's decision to pause its permit application process and rethink its strategy.
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Google is reevaluating its plans to build a large data center in Chile due to concerns about water scarcity in the region. The decision comes after years of drought and environmental challenges in the area.
Google has announced that it will reconsider its plans to construct a significant data center in Chile, citing concerns over water scarcity in the region 1. The project, which was set to be built in Cerrillos, a commune in Chile's capital Santiago, has been in development since 2019 2.
The decision to reassess the project comes in response to prolonged drought conditions in central Chile, which have persisted for over a decade 3. Data centers, known for their high water consumption for cooling purposes, have raised concerns among local communities and environmentalists about their impact on water resources in drought-stricken areas.
In a statement, Google emphasized its commitment to operating sustainably and acknowledged the importance of water conservation. The company stated, "Water is a shared resource, and we know it's critical that we find sustainable solutions" 4. Google has pledged to work closely with local officials and community members to address these concerns and explore alternative solutions.
The data center project was expected to create jobs and stimulate economic growth in the region. Google had previously announced plans to invest about $140 million in the project 5. The reconsideration has sparked mixed reactions, with some local officials expressing disappointment over potential lost economic opportunities, while environmental advocates welcome the move.
This development highlights the growing tension between technological advancement and environmental sustainability. As data centers become increasingly crucial for the digital economy, tech companies face mounting pressure to balance their expansion plans with ecological responsibilities. Google's decision may set a precedent for how other tech giants approach similar projects in water-stressed regions globally.
While Google has not completely abandoned the project, it is exploring various options to address the water usage concerns. These may include implementing more water-efficient cooling technologies, considering alternative locations, or scaling down the project. The company has not provided a timeline for its decision-making process but has committed to maintaining transparency with local stakeholders throughout the reevaluation.
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