Google and Intersect are building a data center in Gray County. Cortnie Hale, president and CEO of the Pampa Chamber of Commerce, said the project is expected to create new opportunities for the community over time.
Google has made an investment and intersect made an investment into the Pampa community long term, but also we're expecting diversity. Business opportunities to come from it,” Hale said. “It shows that our community is open and ready for Businesses to come here, whether they're. Technology or other kinds of business opportunities. We're open to those. And this is just the beginning. And small businesses will open with us. Restaurants will open, stores will open.”
Google declined a request for an interview about the project’s economic impact and the amount of water the center will use, but provided a statement.
“Google is committed to delivering data centers the right way in Texas ... While no two Google data centers are the same, each one generates hundreds of jobs...We are also investing $10 million into the Texas Water Impact Fund to support public water infrastructure, and protecting local communities from grid strain by utilizing an air-cooled design with over a gigawatt of dedicated, co-located wind, solar, and battery storage,” the statement said.
Hale said concerns in the community about water use are valid and acknowledged that the technology is unfamiliar to many residents.
“This is new technology that most of us don't know very much about,” Hale said. “In my work with Google and talking to Google and Intersect, they're working really hard. On the impact of the environment. They're using sustainable energy and the closed-loop cooling system, which will fill it up with water one time, and the only time.”
Hale said the center is expected to be completed by 2028 in Gray County.