Google says it will invest more than $1 billion in Texas

Google shared that it will spend $1 billion to expand data centers in North Texas. The website launched its Dallas cloud region in 2022.

Google says the expansion will "help meet growing demand for Google Cloud, AI innovations, and other digital products and services that people and organizations use every day, such as Search, Maps, and Workspace."

"We aim to foster innovation and provide an even better user experience to our customers," says Yolande Piazza.

Google says the project will generate "thousands of new construction jobs" and "hundreds of high-paying jobs going forward." A spokeswoman refused to give details.

State and federal lawmakers attended the announcement in Midlothian Thursday. Congressman Jake Ellzey, whose district includes Midlothian, says Texas' population growth means the expansion will help people stay connected, but he says the state has also created an environment where businesses can succeed and work toward the future.

"The 'Texas Miracle' is not a miracle," he says. "The Texas Miracle takes a good regulatory environment, people who are willing to work hard, a highly-skilled base who are ready to work and earn a living every day."

Senator Ted Cruz says the expansion will also help Texas generate jobs that will be in-demand in the future.

"My number one priority in the Senate is jobs, jobs, jobs," he says. "The reason so many companies are investing billions of dollars in the State of Texas is, in Texas, we have the best environment for jobs of any place on Planet Earth."

He says the state can also lead in technological advancement as artificial intelligence impacts more parts of our lives. He says he was recently texting with his daughter.

"She sent me back this long, detailed, very introspective text. I said, 'This is really well-written.' She said, 'Oh yeah, I used AI to draft it,'" Cruz says. "Wait, you're using AI to draft a text to your dad? This is a little terrifying, and the kids are going to run the world in about six minutes."

Google has not given a timeline for the expansion. The company says this project will bring its investment in Texas to $2.7 billion.

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