An improper redaction in Nebraska’s annual data center report has exposed previously hidden details about Google’s electricity and water consumption across three state facilities.
According to the report submitted to Nebraska’s Department of Water, Energy, and Environment, the Lincoln Google Data Center, operating as Agate LLC, claimed its electricity and water usage were trade secrets under state statutes. However, highlighting the redacted text boxes and copying them into a separate document revealed the actual figures: 52.65 megawatts of electricity during peak demand and 13.299 megagallons of water annually across cooling towers, evaporative systems, and site operations.
For context, 13.3 million gallons of water equals approximately 20 Olympic-size swimming pools and represents less than half of what the City of Lincoln reports using on a single day.
The six data centers reporting as of September 30 collectively consumed 765 million gallons of water in the past year—enough to fill 1,159.93 Olympic-size swimming pools. Among these facilities, Fireball Group LLC, the Google Data Center in Papillion, reported the highest water usage at 547.88 megagallons annually.
The improper redaction also revealed expected tax refunds. Agate LLC reports expecting a $55.8 million refund from 2025 taxes, while Fireball LLC expects $39.2 million and Westwood Solutions LLC in Omaha expects $22.6 million. According to the documents, the data centers utilize sales and use tax exemptions under the Nebraska Advantage Act, though no rebates have been received to date nor are any expected under the ImagiNE Nebraska Act.
Documents show Agate LLC’s gross floor area is 288,530 square feet, roughly the size of five football fields.
These reports were submitted under Governor Jim Pillen’s July 20 Executive Order requiring data centers to self-report their resource impact on Nebraska, primarily regarding water consumption, power grid usage, and local infrastructure. Usage reports were due by September 30, and submitted documents are available through the Department of Water, Energy, and Environment database.
Key facts
- Agate LLC (Lincoln Google Data Center) uses 52.65 megawatts of peak electricity and 13.3 million gallons of water annually
- Six reporting data centers collectively used 765 million gallons of water in the past year
- Agate LLC expects a $55.8 million tax refund from 2025; Fireball LLC expects $39.2 million; Westwood Solutions expects $22.6 million
- Fireball Group LLC in Papillion used the most water of all reporting data centers at 547.88 megagallons annually
- Agate LLC’s facility covers 288,530 square feet