Google data center in Cerrillos avoids environmental assessment

The Environmental Assessment Service (SEA) has determined that Google’s proposed $200 million data center in Cerrillos, Chile, will not be required to undergo the Environmental Impact Assessment System (SEIA). The decision follows a project reformulation prompted by previous legal challenges regarding water usage.

The original project, which sought to extract 169 liters per second from the Santiago Central aquifer, had its environmental approval partially annulled by the Second Environmental Court in February 2024 following objections from local residents and organizations. In response, Google redesigned the facility to utilize an air-cooling system consisting of 63 chillers, eliminating the need for water consumption.

The new design includes 44 diesel backup generators storing approximately 695.9 tons of fuel. Under updated regulations, this amount falls below the 1,000-ton threshold that mandates environmental evaluation for flammable substance storage. Additionally, the 400-meter power transmission line does not trigger an assessment, as the requirement applies to lines exceeding two kilometers.

Local groups, including the Latin American Observatory of Environmental Conflicts (OLCA) and the Community Socio-Environmental Movement for Water and Territory (MOSACAT), have contested the decision, arguing that the project should still undergo formal evaluation given its scale and continuity.