Linn County Responds to Google’s Decision to Bypass County Protections

The Linn County Board of Supervisors today announced that Google LLC has informed the County it will pursue annexation of its proposed data center site into the City of Palo.

The County says the move ends months of good-faith negotiations with Linn County over the regulatory and economic framework for its planned $1 billion-plus data center development on approximately 545 acres in unincorporated Linn County.

Over the course of several months, Linn County staff worked closely with Google’s team to develop a data center zoning ordinance that ensured protections for County residents while providing a workable regulatory path for the project. The County says they engaged in extensive dialogue with Google throughout the drafting process, working to build a framework that served both the public interest and the company’s operational needs.

“We took this process seriously from day one,” said Kirsten Running-Marquardt, Chair of the Linn County Board of Supervisors. “We invested significant time and resources to create an ordinance with strong protections for our residents and our water resources all while having Google – a trillion dollar company – pay their fair share. We gave Google a clear, workable path to build. We were not trying to block this project. We believed in working together in a transparent process for both regional benefits and protections.”

A central element of the County’s framework was a comprehensive water balance study to ensure that a project of this magnitude – with significant long-term water consumption – would not jeopardize the region’s water resources. Google agreed to fund this study, committing up to $500,000 to provide the independent, science-based analysis that Linn County residents deserve before a project of this scale moves forward.

The Board views this water study as essential. The Board says Linn County residents have a right to know that their water supply is protected, and the County was unwilling to approve a project with this level of water demand without that assurance.

From the outset, the County says the Board of Supervisors made clear that Linn County would not compromise the interests of its residents for any project, regardless of the dollar figure attached. The County says County staff worked hard during discussions with Google to secure what is arguably the strongest economic development agreement Google has offered to any local government, including annual community development payments, a significant strategic partnership fund, environmental stewardship commitments, and high-quality job creation.

Last Thursday, Linn County staff informed Google that the Board of Supervisors is willing to formally consider acceptance of the economic terms as presented by Google.

That same day, Google informed the County that it will instead pursue annexation into the City of Palo. The practical effect of this decision is that the project would no longer be subject to the regulatory framework in the County’s ordinance – including its water protections and the requirement for an independent water balance study – and the economic assurances with Linn County would no longer apply.

“Let’s be clear about what is happening here,” said Sami Scheetz, Linn County Supervisor for District 2. “We negotiated in good faith. And Google’s response was to go find a local government that will ask for less. This is a multi-trillion dollar corporation pitting local governments against each other in a race to the bottom – seeking lower regulation and lower investment in our communities. That is fundamentally wrong.”

The Board of Supervisors reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the health, safety, and long-term interests of Linn County residents. The Board will continue to advocate for strong environmental and regulatory safeguards for any large-scale development in the region, regardless of where it is ultimately sited.

The Board also urged the City of Palo to hold the line on behalf of its own residents and the broader community.

“I truly understand that small towns are working to do what they need to remain strong and sustainable. At the same time, our residents have shared that they value thoughtful safeguards and responsible growth,” said Brandy Meisheid, Linn County Supervisor for District 3. “In Linn County, we worked hard to put reasonable protections and meaningful economic commitments in place. I encourage the City of Palo to consider a similar path so residents in all of our communities can feel confident their interests are being thoughtfully and responsibly protected.”

article courtesy of Linn County