Google faces environmental pushback on $15B India hub

Google plans to invest $15 billion over five years between 2026 and 2030 to build an artificial intelligence data center in Visakhapatnam, on the Bay of Bengal in India. The tech giant targets 2028 for beginning initial operations at the site, which carries a minimum expected operational lifespan of 20 years.

The planned facility will feature a projected power capacity of 1 GW across a 600-acre land footprint. However, growing local opposition and environmental protests have emerged over potential pressures on local electricity and water infrastructure. Demonstrators carrying signs warning that data cannot be drunk have demanded a moratorium on the project.

To address resource concerns, Google maintains a corporate target to replenish 120% of its freshwater consumption for non-cooling use by 2030. Land acquisition in the area has already begun, including reported compensation of $82,000 paid to an individual farmer for a two-acre parcel.

Google projects that the campus will generate $688 million in annual local economic activity, create 4,200 peak construction jobs, and support nine indirect community jobs for every direct operational role. The state government of Andhra Pradesh estimates that the project will create a total of 188,000 direct and indirect jobs over its full lifecycle.