Google will spend $9 billion over the next two years in Oklahoma, in part to expand its data center in Pryor and build another one near Stillwater.
The existing data center opened in 2011 and handles a portion of the services that Google provides, like cloud storage and artificial intelligence. The company has invested $4.4 billion there already.
Ruth Porat, president and chief investment officer for Google and its parent company, Alphabet, visited Pryor on Wednesday, Aug. 13, to formally announce the projects alongside state and local officials.
Along with sharing details about the Oklahoma data centers, Porat also announced a partnership with the electrical training ALLIANCE (etA) to train the labor force needed to build new energy infrastructure. Formerly known as the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee, etA publishes education materials for the electrical industry.
The project is expected to train existing electrical workers and more than 160 apprentices in the state by 2030.
Google will make Google AI tools and training available for 12 months to all Oklahoma-based college students while launching a partnership with the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University to prepare students there with critical AI and job-readiness skills.
"Google is helping to power a new era of American innovation with our investments in Oklahoma," said Porat. "For nearly two decades, Google has proudly called Oklahoma home, starting with our data center in Mayes County, our second largest in the world. With today’s announcement, we’re accelerating that commitment with an additional $9 billion investment over the next two years in AI and cloud infrastructure, workforce development, and education."
More: Could more data centers come to Oklahoma? UAE-based company announces $20B investment plan
To handle the significant power demands of operating one of the largest data centers in the United States, Google signed a deal to purchase more than 700 megawatts of solar power capacity from Leeward Energy.
The company will also spend $1.5 million to support a regenerative agriculture program with Indigo Ag that aims to replenish an estimated 200 million gallons of water annually over the next seven years.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Google announces new data center in Stillwater, expansion in Pryor
Comments