Google data center project in Cerrillos, Chile

Google has proposed a redesigned $200 million data center in the Cerrillos commune near Santiago, Chile. This new proposal follows a previous legal setback in February 2024, when the Second Environmental Court partially annulled the project’s approval due to objections regarding groundwater extraction from the Santiago Central aquifer.

To address these concerns, Google reformulated the project to utilize an air-cooling system with 63 chillers, effectively eliminating water consumption. Under updated regulations, the project no longer triggers a mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA). Specifically, the facility’s storage of approximately 695.9 tons of diesel for backup generators remains below the 1,000-ton threshold required for evaluation, and the 400-meter power transmission line does not meet the two-kilometer minimum for assessment.

Local community groups and organizations, such as the Latin American Observatory of Environmental Conflicts (OLCA) and the Community Socio-Environmental Movement for Water and Territory (MOSACAT), have contested the decision. Residents have expressed concerns regarding potential noise, heat, and air pollution, as well as the risks posed by onsite diesel storage, and are considering further legal action.