Project Spring Update:
Google is considering Project Spring for a potential data center in Sand Springs, OK.
Updated as of Jan. 14, 2026
About the Project:
Project Spring is a potential data center development in Sand Springs, Oklahoma.
Data centers are the physical home of the internet. They house the fiber optic cables that process all internet traffic and transactions that support our daily lives and the global economy.
Google is interested in purchasing Project Spring from U.S.-based developer, White Rose Partners, an experienced data center developer committed to only working with top tier American companies with extensive experience in the data center industry, and strong reputations as community partners and employers.
Project Spring will be located on an 827-acre property located at 5615 OK-97, Sand Springs, OK 74063.
While the site layout is preliminary, the data center buildings are anticipated to occupy less than 10% of the 827-acre site. The areas surrounding the data center buildings will be developed primarily with essential infrastructure, such as private internal roads, parking, equipment yards, and electrical transmission facilities. The developer is responsible for the entire cost of this infrastructure. Additionally, 30-40% of the site is planned to be preserved as vegetative or green open space, including landscaped buffer zones along the perimeter of the property.
Community Benefits:
Project Spring is positioned to deliver significant, enduring financial benefits to the people of Sand Springs, including dedicated funding for local schools and essential services, stable long-term revenue for the City, and the creation of quality, local jobs requiring a wide variety of skills. This project will also pay fees to Osage County, and to Tulsa Tech.
Data centers offer significant tax revenue, often ranking among the top taxpayers within their jurisdictions, even with tax incentives in place.
If constructed, Project Spring will be one of the top taxpayers in Osage County and the City of Sand Springs.
Data centers deliver higher net financial benefit to local governments and taxing jurisdictions than many other types of manufacturing facilities because they place less demand on schools, emergency services, road maintenance, and other local services compared to other industrial or large commercial developments.
Economic Impact
Increased RevenuE
Project Spring will deliver millions of dollars per year in new revenue to the City of Sand Springs and other local taxing entities, including Sand Springs Public Schools, Osage County, and Tulsa Tech.
Currently, the property generates less than $3,000 per year in property taxes and no franchise fees.
GROWTH
Data centers provide direct, indirect, and induced jobs across many industries. Construction and the presence of temporary contractors will stimulate additional local spending on construction materials and supplies, lodging, dining, fuel, and services, which in turn increases local sales and lodging tax revenues.
JOBS
Project Spring will create up to one thousand temporary construction jobs at peak. Additionally, data centers offer high-quality operational job opportunities across a wide range of skill sets, including facility managers, HVAC and server operations technicians, and everything from food service to janitorial to groundskeeping to security roles.
Google has a strong history of hiring locally, and expects Project Spring would be the same.
Improved Infrastructure
Project Spring will fund upgrades to local power infrastructure, as well as pay for any additional infrastructure required for the Project. These improvements will be funded solely by Project Spring, protecting the City and residents from additional costs of infrastructure upgrades needed for the Project. These improvements to power infrastructure will also benefit all grid users - meaning residents will have a more resilient electrical grid, paid for by Project Spring.
Environmental Impact
Power Use and Infrastructure: Power for the proposed data center will be supplied by Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO), following extensive reviews to protect the interests of all customers. By working closely with the Southwest Power Pool (SPP), PSO uses a deliberate planning process to guarantee a reliable energy supply. PSO confirms that the grid is strong enough to handle the data center's requirements, while ensuring that plenty of capacity remains available for residential needs and future growth opportunities.
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Data centers are required to pay for the full cost of any new power lines or equipment needed to operate. Data centers sign agreements with utility companies guaranteeing upfront payment for site-specific infrastructure and ensuring that the data center’s service rates fully pay for the data center’s energy usage.
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For Project Spring specifically, the developer will pay for all required new infrastructure, including a dedicated substation and transmission lines. This commitment safeguards public finances while supporting the resiliency of the grid. Additional safeguards are put in place through the contractual requirements in the electric service agreement with PSO, which include long-term commitments to minimum bills and other financial guarantees that ensure PSO and residents do not incur costs as a result of the new project demand.
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According to research by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (link), retail electricity price increases over the last five years were driven by inflation, natural gas price spikes, extreme weather recovery, wildfire mitigation, upgrades to aging grid assets, and higher labor and health costs incurred by utility companies. The study states “...recent increases in retail electricity prices have been driven principally by rising revenues (costs) unrelated to load growth”.
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The same study also suggests that increased electricity demand can lower prices. Between 2019 and 2024, states with increases in electricity demand saw lower prices overall, with the biggest factors behind rising rates being infrastructure costs and disaster-proofing investments.
Water Use: If they move forward, Google would operate the data centers and has various energy and water efficient cooling technologies that they can adapt to the City’s stated availability. For Project Spring, the project team has executed a, science-based evaluation of the local watershed and are committed to a structured, phased implementation that prioritizes the long-term sustainability of Sand Springs' resources.
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Initial Phases: Google is proposing a non-evaporative cooling solution for the initial phases of the project. These buildings will not use water for cooling.
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Site Operations: Water use during these initial phases will be limited to standard domestic needs, such as bathrooms and kitchen facilities.
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Future Planning: As the campus evolves, any future cooling and/or water demand decisions will be made in close coordination with the City of Sand Springs to ensure the project aligns with the City’s stated availability and prioritize the needs of local residents
Wastewater Management: Google would work with local water and wastewater authorities to ensure adherence to all federal, state and local wastewater regulations.
Noise and Vibrations: There are no residual or continuous sounds, vibrations, or any other auditory or physical impacts of having a data center nearby. Data centers do not generate ground vibrations.
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Google data centers produce noise levels comparable to an office building. These are different from typical crypto mining operations which can produce more noise.
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Noise emissions from Project Spring while in operation will be below the maximum allowed under zoning regulations for the City of Sand Springs which is 65 dB at the property boundary. The Project will utilize design and operations techniques to minimize even these noise impacts, such as landscaped buffer areas and berms along the property line and enclosing standard noise sources in the middle of the site.
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Backup generators are only tested for maintenance purposes in small groups, for minutes at a time, and never at night. Typical annual maintenance and testing run hours for each generator is considerably less than the 100 hours per year allowed by State and Federal regulations. Emergency utility outages are the only events that require more extended operation. Project Spring will work with qualified specialists to conduct noise studies throughout the development to ensure the Project adheres to noise limits.
Protecting Local Character: Project Spring is committed to designing and constructing a high-quality facility in accordance with applicable Sand Springs City Code requirements and Project-specific requirements as prescribed in the proposed Planned Unit Development (PUD). The Project will incorporate perimeter landscape buffering, and we anticipate hundreds of acres of the property will remain undisturbed and protected. This will maintain existing vegetation, natural sightlines, and green buffers around the development.
Groundwater Contamination: In Oklahoma, ODEQ and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board administer state regulations to protect groundwater quality. Project Spring will adhere to these established requirements and any site-specific mandates from the permitting process to ensure construction or operational activities do not negatively impact groundwater quality or volume.
Emissions: The electricity for Project Spring will be sourced from distant power generation facilities and transmitted to the site using electrical transmission lines managed by Public Service Oklahoma (PSO). Backup generators are common at data center campuses to protect internet service during power outages. Their use is subject to stringent regulations at the State (ODEQ) and Federal (EPA) level. State and Federal rules allow non-emergency maintenance and testing hours up to 100 hours per year, per generator. However, typical annual maintenance and testing run times for each generator are considerably less than the 100 hour maximum.
Views: At full buildout, there will be nearly zero visibility of the data centers by neighbors or passersby due to tree coverage. Additionally, data center buildings are only anticipated to occupy less than 10% of the 827 acre property.
Here are renderings of the view of the data center from the adjacent roads:
Wildlife Impact: Due to the site’s unique topography and floodplain areas, Project Spring will preserve a significant portion of the natural landscape. Furthermore, the Project is committed to minimizing or avoiding impacts on wildlife. This commitment is supported by a threatened and endangered species study conducted by qualified specialists to identify sensitive species or habitats that typically occupy the area. Conservation measures will be taken, including timing construction to avoid sensitive seasons, preserving habitat areas, and implementing best practices to reduce disturbance during construction.
Fire & Life Safety: Data centers are designed and reviewed to comply with nationally recognized fire and life‑safety codes as adopted by Oklahoma and enforced through state and local fire‑marshal plan review and inspections. When lithium‑ion batteries are used, additional code and safeguard requirements apply.
Lighting: Light fixtures on the property are meant for security. Any building-perimeter lights will be aimed down and have shielded fixtures to ensure the source is not visible from the street. If this Project goes forward, there will be security fence lighting, but the security fence will be several hundred feet inward from the property line for the overwhelming majority of the property.
Roads and Traffic: The Project is committed to maintaining efficient traffic flow and safe access along neighboring roads. During the site-planning phase, a comprehensive traffic study will be completed as required by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT). Any warranted road improvements will be fully funded by the developer. Construction will be carefully phased to minimize disruption, and long-term operations are expected to result in very few daily vehicle trips compared to standard industrial uses.
