Google proposes air-cooled data center in Chile avoiding environmental assessment

Google has presented a new $200 million data center project in the Cerrillos commune, on the outskirts of Santiago, Chile. Following a previous legal defeat regarding the use of groundwater for cooling, the company has redesigned the facility to utilize an air-cooling system instead of water.

However, a regulatory change approved in 2025 allows this new project to proceed without undergoing a formal environmental impact assessment. This has reignited socio-environmental conflicts with local residents, who are considering legal action. Neighbors have raised concerns regarding the lack of mitigation measures for potential noise, heat, and air pollution, as well as the risks associated with the onsite storage of 700 tons of diesel.