Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced on September 5 it will invest $10 billion to build a new data center campus in Montgomery County, Missouri [1, 2]. The project is expected to create more than 400 full-time data center jobs, along with thousands of construction roles during the build phase [1].
Amazon already employs over 10,000 people in Missouri and supports an additional 10,000 jobs related to its operations statewide [1]. The new campus will support AWS cloud computing and artificial intelligence workloads that power industries such as remote work, streaming entertainment, healthcare, and finance [1].
To limit environmental impact, Amazon partnered with Ameren Missouri to ensure costs associated with the campus do not increase expenses for other utility customers [1]. The company also invested in a 138-megawatt carbon-free energy project in Missouri, which generates enough electricity to power more than 28,000 homes [1].
Water efficiency features of the campus include free-air cooling 90% of the time, rainwater harvesting to meet 20% of annual water needs, on-site water recycling up to six times, and low water use for cooling overall. The site is projected to use less than 0.1% of the local aquifer’s annual recharge volume, minimizing strain on regional water supplies [1].
Amazon’s investment is expected to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in new tax revenue for Montgomery County and surrounding areas. The company committed over $7 million in community contributions, including $3 million for emergency services, $1 million for a community gathering space, along with funding for infrastructure improvements and STEM education programs [1].
Additionally, Amazon will donate completed water infrastructure facilities to the local public water supply district free of charge [1]. Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe welcomed the announcement, calling it a boost for the state’s infrastructure, tax base, and economic growth [1].
Construction on the campus is expected to begin later this year, with hiring ramping up as development progresses.
