Google announced Thursday the first phase of a $4 billion cloud and artificial intelligence data center in West Memphis, calling it one of the largest economic investments ever in the state. The project will be built on 1,100 acres about 15 minutes from the Arkansas-Tennessee state line and is expected to run through 2027.
West Memphis Mayor Marco McLendon called the announcement a transformative moment for the city, describing it as the start of a “Digital Delta West.” He said the project will bring jobs, investment, and opportunities for local education.
Ruth Porat, CFO and chief innovation officer of Google’s parent company Alphabet, said the project will support thousands of construction jobs and hundreds of permanent positions once completed.
Entergy Arkansas will provide power to the facility through a combination of a solar array and existing generation. Officials emphasized that the arrangement is designed to keep rates down for other utility customers. Google also announced a $25 million “Energy Impact Fund” to support local energy efficiency initiatives in West Memphis.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders credited recent state legislation, including the Generating Arkansas Jobs Act, with helping attract the project through permitting reforms and tax incentives.
The data center will not use natural gas turbines, McLendon said, differentiating it from a nearby supercomputer project in Memphis. Google has applied for a Clean Air Act major emissions permit for backup generators, which the company said would only be used in rare cases when the power grid fails.
For original reporting from Arkansas Advocate, click here.
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