Google says the first building at its planned Botetourt County data center campus will use air-cooling technology, a change the county shared as part of an update on the project at the Botetourt Center at Greenfield.
Google said the cooling approach for buildings two and three is still being evaluated. The company also said it will continue working with the Western Virginia Water Authority with a focus on minimizing water usage and sustainability.
The Western Virginia Water Authority said it now anticipates the project’s overall water demand will be lower than originally projected, but it doesn’t yet have updated demand figures. The Authority added that existing agreements remain in effect, and it plans to protect existing customers by ensuring development-related costs are covered by the developer while maintaining reliable service and supply.
Air cooling can materially change a site’s water profile versus designs that rely on evaporative heat rejection, but the practical impact here will depend on the final mechanical design and what’s chosen for the later buildings. For data center operators and utilities, the difference shows up in both total water demand and how that demand behaves during peak weather.
Google said the updated approach for the first facility is expected to reduce the site’s overall water consumption and aligns with its environmental commitments outlined in its 2026 Environmental Report and 2026 Water Stewardship Portfolio. Botetourt County said it will continue sharing project information as it becomes available, and it points residents to botetourtcountydatacenter.com.
