Data Center Evidence

All reviewed projects

Google — The Dalles campuses

The Dalles, Oregon Operating

Google publishes location details and efficiency data for its campuses. Its water profile shows past water consumption, but not today’s highest demand (the “peak demand”).

Developer
Google
Operator
Google
Stage
Operating
Records as of
November 11, 2026
Scope
A group of campuses

Google’s current location page describes campuses in operation.

Sources: Google, The Dalles data center location, accessed November 11, 2026; Google, Campus power usage effectiveness reports, accessed November 11, 2026.

Water

Does the disclosed design cool the whole campus this record covers without evaporating water?

NoCompany statement

A photo on Google’s location page has this caption: “Steam rises above Google’s cooling towers in The Dalles data center in Oregon.” The caption has no date and does not name the campus. A cooling tower that gives off steam gets rid of heat by letting water evaporate into the air. This is called “evaporative cooling”. Google’s water profile, dated April 2023, says Google uses water to cool its data centers. It reports almost 275 million gallons consumed in The Dalles in 2021. So Google’s own records show this kind of cooling on at least part of its campuses in The Dalles. Neither record sets out the full design for getting rid of heat.

Sources: Google, The Dalles data center location, accessed November 11, 2026; Google, The Dalles water profile, April 2023.

Is a number public for how much water the site or campus needs or consumes?

YesMeasured result

The April 2023 water profile reports water consumed (used and not returned) in The Dalles in 2021. The figure is almost 275 million gallons. It is from the past and covers the local campuses together. It is not a current figure for a day when water use is highest (a “peak day”).

Source: Google, The Dalles water profile, April 2023.

Power

Is clean power accounting for this project public, and does it clearly state the matching period?

Not known

The listed records do not answer this.

Generators

Is a final air permit for this project public in the listed records?

Not known

The listed records do not answer this.

Noise

Do the listed records show enforceable noise limits, as numbers, for the site when it runs?

Not known

The listed records do not answer this.

Costs

Do public records show an adopted tariff or agreement that says who pays the project’s power costs?

Not known

The listed records do not answer this.

Promises

Does a public record show a local land-use decision?

Not known

The listed records do not answer this.

What is public

Are measured environmental results for the site or campus public, with the dates they cover?

YesMeasured result

Google publishes a PUE figure for each campus. PUE (power usage effectiveness) measures the electricity a site uses beyond its computers. The figures are by quarter and for the latest twelve months (“trailing twelve months”). They run through the second quarter (Q2) of 2026. Google reports these efficiency measurements itself.

Source: Google, Campus power usage effectiveness reports, accessed November 11, 2026.

Limits of these records

  • This record groups Google’s campuses in The Dalles. It must not be counted as one single building.
  • PUE measures a site’s overhead, which is the electricity it uses beyond its computers. It does not measure total electricity demand, clean-power supply or effects on the community.
  • The 2021 water measurement is evidence from that year. It is not an estimate of current water use.

Sources