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Data center project · Barber County, Kansas

Project Helium (Google), near Sharon

Approved · Google's first announced Kansas data center, a 1.7 million-square-foot air-cooled campus in rural Barber County. Also known as: Project Helium.

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Status
Approved · as of Aug. 31, 2026
Location
Near Sharon, roughly 8 miles east of Medicine Lodge · Barber County
Status note
County commissioners approved the agreements 2-0-1; KWCH reported work is to start in early 2027, with operations starting in 2030.
Power
Not reported
No power figure in the county release or reporting reviewed.
Floor area
1,700,000 sq ft
Investment
Projected assessed value about $116.9 million (county); no capital figure stated
Developer and team
Google
End user
Google
Water
Closed-loop, air-cooled; no new wells; water and wastewater bought from a regulated municipal utility.
Incentives
Barber County Board of Commissioners: no property tax abatement; Google pays $5.5 million in community benefit payments (2026-2029) and posts $5 million in road security. The county estimates about $327.5 million in property taxes over 20 years (projected, not paid).
Evidence
Primary public records
Size class
Under 50 MW (outside main scope; kept for completeness)
Map position approximate, from the reported address or area. Updated Oct. 17, 2026.

Updates, newest first

  1. Aug. 31, 2026 Commissioners approved the development agreements on a 2-0-1 vote; the county announced full property tax payment, community benefit payments and road, noise and water conditions. (Barber County Board of Commissioners, Aug. 31, 2026; KWCH 12, Aug. 31, 2026)
  2. Jan. 12, 2026 Google presented the project to a Barber County public hearing. (Barber County (Google presentation posted by the county), Jan. 12, 2026)

Conflicts and open questions

  • Jobs are stated as a guaranteed minimum of 300 full-time equivalents by year five (county agreement) and about 500 (Google, per KWCH).
  • Whether Google will seek the SB 98 sales tax exemption was not stated in the records reviewed.

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