Google on Wednesday officially announced that it is building two more data centers in central Ohio, turning the state into one of the tech company’s fastest-growing data center hubs that powers Google’s artificial intelligence innovations and tools such as search, Gmail and maps.
Two years ago, Google said it was investing an additional $1 billion by expanding its data center in New Albany while buying land in Columbus and Lancaster for future potential development for data centers.
Now Google says it is building data centers on those sites − the old Hartman Farm site at 5076 S. High St. on the Far South Side in Columbus and 104 Whiley Rd. west of U.S. 33 in Lancaster.
Construction is already well underway at both sites. Google won’t say when the new data centers will be operational, other that it typically takes 18 to 24 months to build one.
Google currently has 14 data centers in the U.S.
The additional data centers in central Ohio brings Google’s investment in Ohio to more than $2 billion.
“It’s very unique and special to have three different campuses in one region like central Ohio,” said Amber Tillman, Google’s head of data center economic and community development. “I think that’s a great testament to what a great place Ohio has been to do business for us.”
Columbus growing as a data center hub
Google’s announcement builds on the region as an expanding hub for data centers.
A report from 42Floors, a commercial real estate service, last November ranked central Ohio ninth in the country with 4.6 million square feet of space for data centers.
Baxtel.com, a site that tracks data center development, lists 40 data centers in the region, including Google’s data centers in Lancaster and the south side of Columbus.
Facebook parent Meta and Amazon are among several companies in addition to Google to set up data centers here.
In January, Amazon bought nearly 400 acres along Beech Road NW this month for $116.6 million. While the e-commerce giant has not said what it will do with the site, plans filed with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency by the New Albany Co. show proposals for enormous data center complexes on both sides of Beech Road near Miller Road.
Data centers tend to cluster in regions, Google’s Tillman said.
“We look for robust infrastructure, a great talent pool for both operations and construction, and, of course, community partners who are going to help us move our projects along quickly and efficiently,” she said. “We found all of that in central Ohio.”
In the case of the Columbus area, the region has other advantages beyond labor that are draw for data center companies: ample supplies of affordable power and the region has ideal weather for data centers in that there is little risk of flooding, earthquakes or tornadoes compared with other parts of the country.
Columbus Google Cloud
The new data centers will help power Google’s artificial intelligence innovations and tools such as search, Gmail and maps.
A year ago, the Columbus Google Cloud region launched to help Google’s cloud local customers expand globally while helping those based outside the region more easily their users in the Midwest.
Cloud computing and digital tools have become critical for businesses, Tillman said.
“There’s a lot of growing tools and technology that help businesses be more efficient and reliable,” she said.
In 2022, Google helped provide $13.91 billion of economic activity for tens of thousands of Ohio businesses, nonprofits, publishers, creators and developers. More than 587,000 Ohio businesses received requests for directions, phone calls, bookings, reviews and other direct connections to their customers from Google in 2021.
Source : Dispatch
