Google confirms $10B Project Mica in KC
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Google confirmed Thursday it will build its massive Project Mica data center campus in Kansas City — and it will cover the full energy costs under an agreement with Evergy.
Why it matters: The confirmation of the project in the Northland cements one of the largest development packages in the city's history.
Catch up quick: Last summer, Port KC authorized up to $10 billion in taxable revenue bonds to finance the roughly 500-acre campus near I-435 and Highway 169.
- Port KC president and CEO Jon Stephens told Axios in July that the project would include five data center buildings built in phases, with the first phase expected to take about 18 months.
State of play: Trystine Payfer, a Google spokesperson, told Axios that Google will cover the energy costs for this campus under its agreement with Evergy.
- Gina Penzig, an Evergy representative, informed Axios on Thursday that Google will qualify for the company's Large Load Power Tariff, which requires long-term contracts and higher rates to help data centers cover their own costs and protect existing customers.
- "This infrastructure will support economic growth for the area, power Google services that Missourians and local businesses use daily and drive scientific breakthroughs," Payfer said in a statement.
By the numbers: Project Mica includes $1.75 million in upfront workforce funding, including $1.5 million for the Smithville School District and $250,000 for the Northland Career Center. Those payments are not tied to construction progress.
- Google data center projects typically support about 1,200 construction jobs at their peak.
- The campus could require up to 500 megawatts of energy at full capacity, though project materials reference nearly 700 megawatts supplied by the nearby Nashua substation and onsite substations.
Between the lines: Jackson Overstreet, a public information officer for the city, says KC Water reviews projected usage from large developments before approving service. The system can treat up to 240 million gallons per day and currently produces about 100-120 million gallons.
- Payfer says site-level water use will be reported in Google's Environmental Report once the campus is operational.
- Google should invest in 24/7 clean energy for the site and support the retirement of aging coal plants tied to the grid, William Davies, a Kansas City-based organizer with the Sierra Club's Missouri Chapter, said.
What we're watching: Google's confirmation moves Project Mica from bond approval to active development, but details on construction progress, permanent job counts and the site's water demand aren't available yet.