Being built
Google data center at Pine Hill Business Campus
Also called: Google Ridgeville
Google is building a data center at the Pine Hill Business Campus near Ridgeville. It is one of two new Google campuses in Dorchester County, worth $2 billion together with 200 jobs. Google says the water will come from Lake Marion, not the aquifer.
Where things stand: Under construction since fall 2024. Google said in May 2026 that parts would open later in 2026.
🕒 Latest update (May 28, 2026): Google held a community meeting in St. George and said both Dorchester sites were on schedule.
What we know
- 📍 WherePine Hill Business Campus, Research Center Drive area, near Ridgeville, unknown, Dorchester County
- 🏢 CompanyGoogle
- 🏛️ Owned byAlphabet
- 👤 Built forGoogle
- 🔌 Where the power comes fromGoogle says it pays 100% of its own energy costs.
- 💧 WaterLake Marion (Google says no aquifer water)
- 🛢️ Diesel generatorsEmergency backup generators are planned; the number and size were kept confidential in the state air permit.
- 👷 Jobs promised200
- 🤐 Secret deal (NDA)Yes. Google's deal with Dorchester County first required the county to keep the sites' water use secret. After a resident sued, the county agreed in 2025 to make the water numbers public.
❓ Still unanswered
Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?
- How many megawatts will the Pine Hill site use? 🙋 I'll find out
- How much water per day will the Pine Hill site use? 🙋 I'll find out
- How many diesel backup generators will be on site? 🙋 I'll find out
- Is the site inside Ridgeville or Summerville town limits, or unincorporated? 🙋 I'll find out
What happened so far
- Sept 26, 2024Google announced two new Dorchester County campuses, at Pine Hill (Ridgeville) and Winding Woods (St. George), worth $2 billion together.
- Oct 15, 2024State environmental regulators held a public hearing on Google's air permit for backup generators at Pine Hill.
- Jan 2025Dorchester County agreed to make Google's water use public to settle a public records lawsuit.
- May 28, 2026Google held a community meeting in St. George and said both Dorchester sites were on schedule.
🛰️ See it from above
An aerial photo of the area.
Photos: USGS The National Map.
Where this comes from
- Google grows South Carolina footprint with new Dorchester County operations, expansion in Berkeley County · Office of the Governor of South Carolina · Sept 26, 2024
- Google announces $3.3 billion investment in South Carolina data centers · Spectrum News · Sept 26, 2024
- Dorchester Co. community weighing in on Google data center expansion, permits · Live 5 News · Oct 15, 2024
- SC county to disclose Google data center's water usage to settle legal battle · Post and Courier · Jan 2025
- St. George community seeks answers and transparency about new Google data centers · ABC News 4 · May 28, 2026
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