Power and the grid
Energized, size not disclosed
- Omaha Public Power District grid OperatingOPPD has routed three Sarpy County transmission lines for local growth; no campus MW, contract or subscribed load is public Utility regulator · Oct. 2026
- Emergency diesel generators Revision proposedthe Dec. 2025 revision adds 44 engines and raises the yearly diesel limit from 873,040 to 1,180,000 gallons; MW not stated State agency · Oct. 2026
Getting on the grid
Who supplies what, what it costs, and what is still not public.
- 2023OPPD routes local transmissionOPPD completes routes for three Sarpy County transmission lines that serve regional load growth; none is dedicated to this campus. Utility regulator · Oct. 2026
- Sept. 2026Electricity use withheldGoogle's affiliate files its 2025 state data center report (due Sept. 30, 2026) and claims electricity figures as trade secrets. News report · Oct. 2026
- Not setCampus load unknownNo MW, service agreement or build-out schedule is public.
- Nebraska's public power system has no state economic regulator for OPPD, so there is no utility commission docket for this campus. State agency · Oct. 2026
Permits checklist
2 pending · 2 granted
Approvals a campus like this normally needs (including an air permit for backup generators), and what we found.
- ◷Class I (Title V) operating permit PendingNebraska Dept. of Water, Energy and Environment · April 9, 2025: proposed issuance noticed Apr. 2025; comment closed May 12, 2025; issuance not confirmed in our records State agency · Oct. 2026
- ◷Air construction permit revision (44 generators, 16 cooling towers) PendingNebraska Dept. of Water, Energy and Environment · Dec. 11, 2025: comment period ended Jan. 12, 2026 State agency · Oct. 2026
- ✓Sewer cost share (second line repair) GrantedSarpy County Board of Commissioners · May 19, 2020: $487,020 total; Google's affiliate pays $315,755 Local government · Oct. 2026
- ✓Wastewater metering and billing agreement GrantedSarpy County Board of Commissioners · June 29, 2021: amended July 28, 2023; rate capped at the lowest paid by other data centers Local government · Oct. 2026
What could slow it down
- MediumWater scrutinyReported 2025 water use of 548 million gallons is the largest among six Nebraska facilities, and the state has launched a data center task force. News report · Oct. 2026
- MediumDisclosure fightGoogle's affiliate claimed electricity and water figures as trade secrets, and the numbers came out only through a redaction error. News report · Oct. 2026
- WatchAir emissions growthThe pending revision adds 44 diesel engines and lifts the yearly diesel limit by about 35%. see Permits
- WatchTax refund opticsA $39.2M expected state sales-tax refund for 2025 drew press attention. News report · Oct. 2026
Money on record
What happened, and what is due
- Oct. 30, 2018Site Google's affiliate signs its sewer service agreement with Sarpy County Local government · Oct. 2026
- Oct. 2019Construction Google breaks ground on the Papillion campus (code name Project Wizard), a reported $600M+ News report · Oct. 2026
- May 19, 2020Money Sarpy County approves a second sewer line cost share with the campus owner Local government · Oct. 2026
- April 21, 2022Money Google announces $750M of Nebraska investment including a Papillion expansion News report · Oct. 2026
- Oct. 2023Money Google announces $1.2B more for Nebraska, including Papillion (statewide figure) Company · Oct. 2026
- April 9, 2025Permits State notices a proposed Class I operating permit for the campus State agency · Oct. 2026
- Dec. 11, 2025Permits State notices a revision adding 44 emergency generators and 16 cooling towers State agency · Oct. 2026
- May 4, 2026Construction Epoch AI counts three buildings operating, a fourth shell mostly done, a fifth in steel framing
- July 20, 2026Power Nebraska's governor creates a data center task force and annual resource reporting News report · Oct. 2026
- Oct. 5, 2026Money Local TV recovers the campus's 2025 water use and tax refund from a poorly redacted state filing News report · Oct. 2026
Building activity by quarter
Since July 2025: 2 FAA filings (July 2025): tallest crane 300 ft (July 2025).
Specs
- Metropolitan Utilities District: water supplier; Sarpy County bills wastewater on metered water less evaporation Local government · Oct. 2026
Owners, partners and builders
- Google LLC: parent and operator
- Fireball Group LLC: Google affiliate holding the land and permits
- Omaha Public Power District: electric utility
- Metropolitan Utilities District: water
- Sarpy County: sewer agreements
- City of Papillion: land use
- Nebraska Dept. of Water, Energy and Environment: air permits and data center reporting
Open questions
- Campus MW and OPPD service terms.
- Whether the Class I permit and the revision were issued.
- Completion dates for Buildings 4 and 5.
- Google's own build-out plan for the campus.
107 records from 16 documents
Drawn from news reports, local government records, state agency records, company statements, public and commercial datasets and utility regulator dockets, each kept with its date and source. The bar shows documents by type.
Every quote behind this page
Grade key: A = the primary record itself (permit, filing, exhibit) · B = a dated official statement · C = news reporting. Map distances are our own measurements on OpenStreetMap and carry no grade. Allegations in lawsuits are marked as such in the quotes.
Power (11)
- Construction stage: operating - campus in service with phased build-out continuing“proposing to issue an air construction permit to Fireball Group, LLC (FID 106518), an existing data processing center”State agency · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Meta's Sarpy County campus in Papillion/Springfield is a DIFFERENT campus listed on the same Papillion page“Meta Sarpy Data Center boasts massive power capacity, a focus on water conservation, and a strategic location in Nebraska, supporting Meta's continued expansion.”Dataset · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- Regulatory jurisdiction: Sarpy County (sewer service and county agreements); City of Papillion (land use within its jurisdiction/ETJ); Nebraska DWEE (air permits under Title 129 and DCR reporting); Nebraska Power Review“proposing to issue a Class I operating permit to Fireball Group LLC (FID# 106518) for a data center, diesel fired emergency generator engines, and fuel tanks”State agency · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- Power plan: grid“allows the addition of thirty-four (34) Type 1 and ten (10) Type 2 emergency generator engines, all of which will be U.S. EPA Tier 2 certified engines”State agency · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- Stated campus size: not stated“Google announces $1.2 billion in new investment across Nebraska to support our data center growth in Lincoln, Omaha, and Papillion.”Company · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- On-site generation: not stated“allows the addition of thirty-four (34) Type 1 and ten (10) Type 2 emergency generator engines, all of which will be U.S. EPA Tier 2 certified engines”State agency · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- Utility: Omaha Public Power District (OPPD)“OPPD has completed routes for three separate transmission lines in the area that are needed to maintain system resiliency and reliability, as well as support customer load growth and future power generation.”Utility regulator · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- OPPD's Sarpy Southwest Transmission Project (three lines, construction concluded) and Turtle Creek Station (450 MW peaking plant in Papillion) are OPPD-system resources for Sarpy County growth under Power with Purpose -“OPPD has completed routes for three separate transmission lines in the area that are needed to maintain system resiliency and reliability, as well as support customer load growth and future power generation.”Utility regulator · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- Utility: Omaha Public Power District (OPPD)“The area received another big economic boost when Google announced plans to build a new data center in Papillion, Neb.”Company · 2019 · grade B
- Utility service: not stated“Google-affiliated entities cited Neb. Rev. Stat. sections 81-1527 and 84-712.05, along with NAC Title 115, Chapter 2, to claim electricity and water figures as trade secrets”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- KOLN recovered Fireball's 2025 water use (547.88 Mgal) and expected Nebraska Advantage refund ($39,171,573.39) from DWEE's improperly redacted DCR filing; Papillion's electricity figures were not recovered in any coverag“Google's Papillion facility, identified in filings as Fireball Group LLC, reported 547.88 megagallons for 2025 alone.”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
Money and contracts (37)
- Sewer service agreement: scope“Developer executed an Agreement for Sewer Connection and Wastewater Service with County on the 30th day of October, 2018 (the Sewer Service Agreement) in connection with Developer's project located in Sarpy County, Nebraska”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Wastewater metering and billing agreement: scope“Developer and County are parties to that certain Meter Reading and Billing Agreement dated as of June 29, 2021 (the Agreement), Resolution 2021-206, pursuant to which the Parties agreed upon the method”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Wastewater metering and billing agreement: billing basis - MUD Water Volume until the parties agree otherwise“Commencing on September 18, 2020 and until such time as Developer and County agree on usage of the Adjusted Discharge Volume or the Discharge Volume method of invoicing Developer for wastewater as further provided for herein”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- First Amendment to Meter Reading and Billing Agreement: scope - interim billing for cooling-tower evaporation“Due to material delays, Developer is not yet able to utilize the metering system described in the Agreement and is currently being charged for treatment of wastewater that, due to cooling tower evaporation losses, is not being discharged”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- First Amendment to Meter Reading and Billing Agreement: billing basis - Adjusted Discharge Volume (MUD volume less cooling-tower evaporation)“Commencing on July 1, 2023, and until such time as Developer and County agree on the usage of permanent metering devices to measure the Developer's discharged wastewater”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- First Amendment to Meter Reading and Billing Agreement: rate cap - most-favoured data-center rate“in no event shall Developer be charged service or other wastewater related fees by County in excess of the lowest rates paid by other non-governmental data center users of the County's sanitary sewer system”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- First Amendment to Meter Reading and Billing Agreement: default - late meter reporting billed at 2X, then 3X“In the event Developer fails to read the meters on the 1st or 2nd of the month, or to report such readings by the 10th business day of the month, County shall invoice Developer for the prior month at 2X”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- First Amendment to Meter Reading and Billing Agreement: termination - FINDING: none stated“Except as hereinabove specifically provided, all other terms, covenants and conditions of the Agreement remain in in full force and effect.”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Sewer construction and cost share agreement: scope“Developer proposes to construct a large-scale multi-building development which includes an internal road system crossing over the County's existing wastewater line in need of repair and replacement.”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Sewer construction and cost share agreement: total project cost (estimated) 218719.76 USD“The Actual Total Costs are estimated to be $218,719.76 plus a 20% contingency, with County Share at $81,668.20 plus a 10% contingency for a total of $89,835.02”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Sewer construction and cost share agreement: county share cap 91903.66 USD“Approving Agreement for Sewer Construction and Cost Share Between Fireball Group LLC and Sarpy County for a Total Project Cost of $218,719.76 with County's Portion Not Expected to Exceed $91,903.66”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Sewer construction and cost share agreement: developer cost cap 143664 USD“Developer's share of Actual Construction Costs shall be capped at $143,664.00.”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Sewer construction and cost share agreement: condition precedent - road construction sequencing“Developer shall not commence construction of the internal Developer road until the Project is substantially complete.”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Sewer construction and cost share agreement: easement - permanent sanitary sewer easement at no cost“whereupon Developer shall grant a Permanent Sanitary Sewer Easement to County for the Replacement Line at no cost to County.”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Sewer construction and cost share agreement: amendment - written agreement of all parties only“This Agreement may not be amended, modified or altered unless by written agreement signed by all Parties to this Agreement.”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Sewer construction and cost share agreement: termination - FINDING: none stated“This Agreement shall be governed in all respects by the laws of the State of Nebraska and the venue for any litigation with respect hereto shall be in the courts of Sarpy County, Nebraska.”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Sewer construction and cost share agreement (second): scope“Sarpy County owns and operates a wastewater line located within Fireball's property. A portion of the line requires repair and replacement due to existing deflection issues”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Sewer construction and cost share agreement (second): cost split and completion deadline 487019.67 USD“The County's portion of the costs are $171,264.71 and Fireball's portion is $315,754.96 with scheduled completion date of August 31, 2020.”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Current target date: not stated“Google announces $1.2 billion in new investment across Nebraska to support our data center growth in Lincoln, Omaha, and Papillion.”Company · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- Tenants: Google (owner-occupied)“Our data center communities in Nebraska (Lincoln, Omaha, and Papillion) make the internet better for everyone in the Midwest and beyond”Company · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- Tenant status: Owner-occupied by Google via Fireball Group LLC; no third-party tenancy“Our data center communities in Nebraska (Lincoln, Omaha, and Papillion) make the internet better for everyone in the Midwest and beyond”Company · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- Google announced $1.2B of new Nebraska investment supporting data-center growth in Lincoln, Omaha, and Papillion (statewide figure - never booked to campus fields).“Google announces $1.2 billion in new investment across Nebraska to support our data center growth in Lincoln, Omaha, and Papillion.”Company · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- Project status: operating“Google announces $1.2 billion in new investment across Nebraska to support our data center growth in Lincoln, Omaha, and Papillion.”Company · 2023 · grade B
- statewide investment announcement: $1.2 billion new investment across Lincoln, Omaha and Papillion 1200 USD million (statewide, not Papillion-only)“Google announces $1.2 billion in new investment across Nebraska to support our data center growth in Lincoln, Omaha, and Papillion.”Company · 2023 · grade B
- Incentive expected refund 2025: 39171573.39 USD“Fireball Group LLC in Papillion expecting $39,171,573.39. The filings attributed these amounts to sales-and-use-tax exemptions under the Nebraska Advantage Act.”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Site acres: 275 acres“the existing Papillion data center campus, which was built in 2019 on a 275-acre site at 14706 Schram Road in Sarpy County for a reported $600 million”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Capital cost original: 600000000 USD“promising to expand the local workforce and create more than $600 million in capital investment”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- State incentive - Nebraska Advantage Act: scope - expected sales/use-tax refund, 2025 39171573.39 USD“Fireball Group LLC in Papillion expecting $39,171,573.39. The filings attributed these amounts to sales-and-use-tax exemptions under the Nebraska Advantage Act.”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- State incentive - Nebraska Advantage Act: payments received to date 0 USD“The filings also stated that no rebates under that program had been received to date.”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- State incentive - ImagiNE Nebraska Act: scope 0 USD“No incentive payments under the ImagiNE Nebraska Act had been received or were expected, according to the same documents.”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Google broke ground on the Papillion campus (confidential site-selection codename Project Wizard) with a reported $600M+ capital investment on a 275-acre site northwest of Highway 50 and Schram Road.“Dubbed Project Wizard during the confidential site selection phase, Google broke ground very publicly in October, promising to expand the local workforce and create more than $600 million in capital investment”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Google announced $750M of 2022 Nebraska investment including expansion of the existing Papillion campus, which it said employed about 120 people; the announcement event was held at the Papillion site (14706 Schram Road).“Included in the financial mix is an expansion on the existing Papillion data center campus, which was built in 2019 on a 275-acre site at 14706 Schram Road in Sarpy County for a reported $600 million”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Google reported $930M of 2024 Nebraska capital investment and about $4.4B over five years across its three Nebraska sites (statewide context only).“The 2024 capital investment makes for a total so far of about $4.4 billion in Nebraska data centers”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- state tax incentive reporting: Nebraska Advantage Act sales/use tax exemption; expected 2025 tax refund 39171573.39 USD (expected 2025 tax refund, as reported)“Expected 2025 Tax Refund: $39,171,573.39”News report · 2025 · grade C
- County code: 31153“which was built in 2019 on a 275-acre site at 14706 Schram Road in Sarpy County for a reported $600 million”News report · April 2022 · grade C
- Site acreage: 275 acres“which was built in 2019 on a 275-acre site at 14706 Schram Road in Sarpy County for a reported $600 million”News report · April 2022 · grade C
- Announced investment original: 600 USD million“which was built in 2019 on a 275-acre site at 14706 Schram Road in Sarpy County for a reported $600 million”News report · April 2022 · grade C
Permits and government (15)
- Developer: Google (site held and permitted via Fireball Group LLC)“proposing to issue a Class I operating permit to Fireball Group LLC (FID# 106518) for a data center, diesel fired emergency generator engines, and fuel tanks”State agency · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Owner operator: Fireball Group LLC (Google affiliate)“proposing to issue a Class I operating permit to Fireball Group LLC (FID# 106518) for a data center, diesel fired emergency generator engines, and fuel tanks”State agency · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Stage: operating“proposing to issue a Class I operating permit to Fireball Group LLC (FID# 106518) for a data center, diesel fired emergency generator engines, and fuel tanks”State agency · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Class I operating permit: proposed issuance - public notice; comment period Apr 9 - May 12, 2025“proposing to issue a Class I operating permit to Fireball Group LLC (FID# 106518) for a data center, diesel fired emergency generator engines, and fuel tanks”State agency · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Air construction permit revision: proposed revision - public notice; comment period Dec 11, 2025 - Jan 12, 2026“allows the addition of thirty-four (34) Type 1 and ten (10) Type 2 emergency generator engines, all of which will be U.S. EPA Tier 2 certified engines”State agency · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Sarpy County Board of Commissioners: Resolution 2019-419 - Agreement for Sewer Construction and Cost Share between Fireball Group LLC and Sarpy County (Agenda Item 19-428)“the agreement between Fireball Group LLC and Sarpy County for construction and cost share of wastewater line, a copy of which is attached hereto, is hereby approved”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Sarpy County Board of Commissioners: Resolution 2020-141 - Agreement for Sewer Construction and Cost Share with Fireball Group LLC (Agenda Item 20-189)“that the Agreement For Sewer Construction And Cost Share Between Fireball Group, LLC and Sarpy County, a copy of which is attached hereto, is hereby approved.”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Sarpy County Board of Commissioners: Resolution 2021-206 - Meter Reading and Billing Agreement with Fireball Group LLC“Developer and County are parties to that certain Meter Reading and Billing Agreement dated as of June 29, 2021 (the Agreement), Resolution 2021-206, pursuant to which the Parties agreed upon the method”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- FAA OE/AAA: Determined - No Hazard“To construct and/or operate a(n) Crane to a height of 300 feet above ground level 1477 feet above\nmean sea level.”FAA · July 2025 · grade A
- FAA OE/AAA: Determined - No Hazard“To construct and/or operate a(n) Crane to a height of 300 feet above ground level 1507 feet above\nmean sea level.”FAA · July 2025 · grade A
- expansion investment announcement: announced $1.2 billion Nebraska investment including Papillion growth“Google announces $1.2 billion in new investment across Nebraska to support our data center growth in Lincoln, Omaha, and Papillion.”Company · 2023 · grade B
- campus announcement: announced construction of Papillion data center“Google announces the construction of a data center in Papillion, Nebraska.”Company · 2019 · grade B
- Regulatory filing: annual report filed (2025 data)“Google's Papillion facility, identified in filings as Fireball Group LLC, reported 547.88 megagallons for 2025 alone.”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Gov. Pillen's executive order created a DWEE Data Center Task Force and the DCR annual-reporting regime under which Fireball Group LLC filed its 2025 resource report (due Sep 30, 2026).“Gov. Jim Pillen signed an executive order creating a Data Center Task Force under DWEE to examine water resources, electricity systems, and local infrastructure impacts.”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- annual resource-use reporting: Fireball Group LLC reported 2025 water use for Papillion“Nebraska's Department of Water, Energy, and Environment (DWEE) requires data centers to submit annual reports detailing their resource consumption.”News report · 2025 · grade C
Site and other (13)
- Address: 14865 Gold Coast Rd, Papillion, Sarpy County, NE 68138“located at 14865 Gold Coast Road, Papillion, Sarpy, Nebraska 68138”State agency · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- County code: Sarpy County, NE (31153)“an existing data processing center, (Standard Industrial Classification code 7374) located at 14865 Gold Coast Rd, Papillion, Sarpy County, Nebraska”State agency · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Water supplier: Metropolitan Utilities District (MUD)“Adjusted Discharge Volume shall mean the volume of wastewater discharging from Developer Sewer into the Sarpy Sewer calculated by the metered water usage coming into Developer Property (MUD Water Volume)”Local government · Oct. 2026 · grade A
- Operator: Google LLC“Our data center communities in Nebraska (Lincoln, Omaha, and Papillion) make the internet better for everyone in the Midwest and beyond.”Company · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- Site address: 14651-15249 Gold Coast Rd, Papillion, NE 68138 (Buildings 1-4); original site 14706 Schram Road“Please see the profile for further details about Google Papillion - Building 3.”Dataset · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- Buildings: 4 buildings listed“Please see the profile for further details about Google Papillion - Building 4.”Dataset · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- DataCenterMap lists four Google buildings (1-4) at Gold Coast Rd, beyond the original campus - consistent with continued expansion past the third building; listing evidence only.“Please see the profile for further details about Google Papillion - Building 1.”Dataset · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- Original target date: not stated“Google announces the construction of a data center in Papillion, Nebraska.”Company · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- First announced: 2019“Google announces the construction of a data center in Papillion, Nebraska.”Company · Oct. 2026 · grade B
- Water use 2025: 547.88 Mgal“Google's Papillion facility, identified in filings as Fireball Group LLC, reported 547.88 megagallons for 2025 alone.”News report · Oct. 2026 · grade C
- Buildings operating tracker: 3 buildings“Building 4 shell mostly complete, Building 5 steel framing is underway”grade C
- Water use 2025: 547.88 megagallons per year“Annual Water Usage: 547.88 megagallons”News report · 2025 · grade C
- 547.88 megagallons of 2025 water use reported under Fireball Group LLC is a campus-level operating trace consistent with an operating, cooling campus; it is not a capacity figure.“The highest water user was Fireball Group LLC in Papillion, reporting 547.88 megagallons annually.”News report · 2025 · grade C