LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - Nebraska data centers are required to submit an annual report to the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment. However, some state statutes limit public access to information regarding electricity and water usage by these data centers.
The Google Data Center in Lincoln, known as Agate LLC, reported its electricity and water usage as trade secret information, referencing Neb. Rev. State §§ 81-1527; 84-712.05 and NAC TITLE 115, CH. 2. This classification was applied to all three of Google's data centers, including those in Omaha and Papillion.
Improper redaction of the report to the Department of Water, Energy, and Environment revealed that Agate LLC reported a peak electricity usage of 52.65 megawatts and a water usage of 13.299 megagallons over the past year, totaling approximately 13 million gallons of water. This volume is equivalent to filling around 20 Olympic-size swimming pools and is less than half of the water usage reported by the City of Lincoln on September 29.
As of September 30, six data centers reported a total water usage of 765 million gallons last year, enough to fill 1,159.93 Olympic-size swimming pools. The data center with the highest annual water usage is Fireball Group LLC, the Google Data Center in Papillion, which reported 547.88 megagallons for its 2025 Annual Water Consumption.
A public records request filed on September 30 sought to access the redacted information from Agate LLC’s report. Further improper redaction also disclosed anticipated tax refunds for Google data centers. Reports indicate that these centers only “utilize or expect to utilize” sales and use tax exemptions under the Nebraska Advantage Act, with no rebates or incentive payments received or expected under the ImagiNE Nebraska Act.
Agate LLC expects a refund of $55,822,472 from 2025 taxes, while Fireball LLC anticipates a refund of $39,171,573.39, and Westwood Solutions LLC, the Google-owned data center in Omaha, expects a refund of $22,558,881 from 2025 taxes.
Documents from Agate LLC indicate a gross floor area of 288,530 square feet, approximately equivalent to five football fields. The Department of Water, Energy, and Environment Data Center Task Force is overseeing the implementation of Governor Jim Pillen’s Executive Order from July 20, which mandates data centers in the state to self-report their resource impact, primarily concerning water, power grids, and local infrastructure. Usage reports are due by September 30.