Uruguayns Pissed Off At Plans For Tax-Free Google Data Center - 25K Tons CO2/Year, Plus Toxic Waste

Google’s plans to build a datacentre in Uruguay have angered environmentalists, who say the project will release thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide and hazardous waste.

Uruguay’s environmental authorities recently approved the datacentre, which will use air conditioning to cool its servers. The company initially proposed using millions of litres of fresh water to cool its infrastructure, but this caused an outcry in a country that suffered its worst drought since 1950 last year, causing its capital city to run short of drinking water.

However, Daniel Pena, an academic at the University of the Republic in Montevideo and an environmental campaigner, said using air conditioning would be equally damaging to the environment. Based in Canelones, southern Uruguay, the datacentre is predicted to release 25,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year and generate 86 tonnes of hazardous waste, including “electro-electronic residues”, oils and chemical packaging, according to the government’s environmental assessment report.

It will provide internet services for Google’s users worldwide. However, Pena said: “For Uruguay, it will provide nothing except toxic waste and greenhouse gases.” The datacentre would be in a tax-free zone, he added, the company not pay tax.

EDIT

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/article/2024/aug/01/uruguay-anger-environmental-cost-google-datacentre-carbon-emissions-toxic-waste-water