Google will invest $600 million in the the former Hemlock Semiconductor site in Clarksville, TN which it will transform into its eighth U.S. data center, creating 70 new jobs.
“This site comes with the benefits of existing infrastructure, which we plan to reuse and recycle – for example, many of the office buildings will be used for Googlers when the data center is operational,” said Joe Kava, Google Vice President for Data Center Operations. “At the same time, we have room to innovate and grow both as a data center and as a member of the Montgomery County community. We’re excited about the opportunity to experiment with new kinds of technology and design an impressive facility – we can’t wait!”
“The data processing, hosting and related services industry has grown significantly in Tennessee. Clarksville, in particular, has seen a considerable surge with employment increasing by 305 percent in less than five years,” said Tennessee Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd. “To have a company like Google choose our state for its newest data center means a great deal as it will not only add to Clarksville’s business landscape, but it will also provide new opportunities for our workforce.”
The roughly 1,300-acre site will be powered 100 percent by renewable energy thanks to an arrangement with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Through the agreement, Google will be able to scout new renewable energy projects and work with TVA to bring the power onto the electrical grid.
“Collaboration is vital to economic development,” said TVA President and CEO Bill Johnson. “Today we recognize a notable result of the ongoing collaboration among state and local government, the business community and TVA to attract good jobs and sustainable investments to our region.”
City and county officials will begin working with Google to launch a formal community grants program that would support science and technology education, carbon reduction and access to the Internet in the area.
“From a regional perspective, this is a very exciting announcement,” said Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan. “As we’ve discussed for some time, growth in Middle Tennessee is expected to continue at an exponential rate. Google’s investment in Clarksville-Montgomery County is proof that the technology industry is a significant part of that growth. I am very excited about Clarksville’s role in bringing new investment, new jobs and new technology to the area.”
Google currently has data centers in 14 locations on four continents, including Iowa, Georgia, Singapore and Belgium, and recently announced plans to develop a site in Alabama.
