Infrastructure expansion supports demand for AI and cloud services
THE DALLES – Google announced it invested more than $600 million in Oregon this year to expand its cloud and data center infrastructure Dec. 12. This brings the company's total investment in the state to more than $2.4 billion, reinforcing its commitment to Oregon, where it built its first owned and operated data center in The Dalles in 2006. In addition to its infrastructure investments, Google also announced it contributed more than $550,000 to organizations across Oregon this year.
A new data center facility at Google's third campus in The Dalles is now operational at the former Martin-Marietta aluminum smelter, an area that was previously an EPA-designated Superfund site. A second data center is expected to come online in 2026.
“The Dalles is lucky to have Google, and Google is lucky to have The Dalles,” said U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz. “The Dalles, because of the jobs, tax revenue, and excellent working relationship it has with Google. Google, because of the adjacent abundant water, megawatts of clean hydropower, and educated, pragmatic, community. Google’s new data centers in the Dalles are both an investment in technology as well as an investment in the people and the promise of our region.”
“Google has been a good neighbor here in The Dalles for nearly two decades now and has been instrumental in our community’s growth,” said The Dalles Mayor Richard Mays. “Its investment here supports everything from public safety to schools to infrastructure. We’re glad to have its workforce in our community and are happy to see the company’s commitment grow.”
Google data centers power services such as Google Cloud, Search, Maps and Workspace that individuals and businesses rely on every day. Data centers are vital to the digital economy, and Google's ongoing investment in technical infrastructure is crucial for driving AI innovation and supporting its customers.
The Oregon cloud region is part of Google Cloud's global network of 41 regions that delivers high-performance and low-latency services to large enterprises, startups, and public sector organizations. Customers benefit from controls that allow them to maintain the highest security, data residency and compliance standards, including specific data storage requirements.
“Our commitment to Oregon goes beyond our data centers,” said Joe Kava, Vice President, Global Data Centers, Google. “By investing in local infrastructure, supporting community organizations, and working to restore natural resources, we’re dedicated to being a long-term partner in Wasco County, and across the state, as we work together to address challenges and build a strong future for everyone.”
Supporting impactful organizations across Oregon
In 2024, Google contributed more than $550,000 to organizations in Oregon working to build climate resilience, strengthen the local economy, and improve health and educational outcomes for Oregonians. Recipients of this year’s community support include:
- Dufur School District:
- $150,000 toward the purchase of mobile solar power systems for Dufur School's gym and health center, to help provide backup power for the community’s emergency shelter and command center during disasters.
- $50,000 to build a new school-based health center at Dufur School designed to expand access to medical care for students and the broader community.
- Columbia Gorge Community College (CGCC): $50,000 to expand a nursing simulation lab at CGCC, to help meet the urgent demand for more highly-trained healthcare professionals in rural areas.
- One Community Health: $50,000 to support One Community Health’s Mobile Medical Unit, which provides accessible, consistent care for community members facing homelessness or housing instability.
Other organizations that have received support this year include: Oregon Entrepreneurs Forum, Portland State University, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, North Wasco County School District 21, Chenowith Elementary, Gorge MakerSpace, The Dalles-Wasco County Library Foundation, North Wasco County Education Foundation, The Dalles Main Street, Columbia Gorge Tech Alliance, and the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District. Google also sponsored the Wasco County Fair and Rodeo’s first ever drone show, and helped three robotics teams from The Dalles travel to the VEX Robotics World Championship in Houston.
Google also renewed its broadband commitment to the Celilo Village, a Native American community on the Columbia River, by paying to extend the Village’s broadband service contract through 2028. Since 2019, all homes and families within Celilo Village have access to Wi-Fi, as well as their schoolhouse and longhouse, through support from Google.
Demonstrating water stewardship in The Dalles
Alongside its data centers, Google has supported water sustainability and reliability in The Dalles. This includes our ongoing investment of more than $28 million to build an Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) system and support the resilience of the City’s water infrastructure. Google transferred the water rights associated with the former smelter site to The Dalles at no cost, which provides an additional source of water to the community by making a previously private resource available for public benefit. This transfer of water rights, which is more than the water that will be used by the two new data centers, will create a net gain in water resources for the City, demonstrating Google’s commitment to water stewardship in the community.
To learn more about Google in Oregon, visit economicimpact.google/state/or.
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