The tech giant doubles down on Alabama infrastructure as AI demand reshapes the state's energy and economic landscape
Google has now poured over $2 billion into its data center campus in Jackson County, Alabama, a facility that first opened its doors in 2018 with a roughly $600 million initial investment. The expansion reflects a broader trend among hyperscalers racing to build out the physical infrastructure needed to power an insatiable appetite for AI and cloud computing.
The Jackson County site sits on the bones of a decommissioned TVA coal plant.
Nuclear power enters the picture #
In August 2025, Google secured a power purchase agreement alongside Kairos Power and TVA for up to 50 megawatts of electricity from the Hermes 2 advanced nuclear plant. That energy will feed Google facilities across Alabama and Tennessee.
Google’s nuclear play isn’t happening in a vacuum. Microsoft has struck deals to restart Three Mile Island’s reactor. Amazon has invested in nuclear energy startups.
For a state like Alabama, which already hosts at least 19 data centers with investments from companies including Google and Meta, this pivot toward advanced nuclear could position it as a testing ground for next-generation energy infrastructure.
Alabama’s evolving tech landscape #
Google’s footprint in the state has generated significant local economic activity. The company says over 153,000 Alabamians have been trained through its Grow with Google programs, a workforce development initiative designed to build digital skills in communities near its operations.
In Somerville, Alabama, local residents have pushed back against proposed Bitcoin mining operations, citing noise, energy consumption, and quality-of-life concerns. Former cryptocurrency mining sites in the region are being repurposed into AI and cloud computing facilities.
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