Nebraska requires data centers to file an annual report with the Department of Water, Energy, and Environment, but certain statutes have led to heavy redaction, keeping the public from seeing actual electricity and water consumption.
Google’s Lincoln facility, Agate LLC, claimed its electricity and water usage were trade secrets, citing Neb. Rev. State §§ 81-1527; 84-712.05 and NAC TITLE 115, CH. 2. The same approach was used for its Omaha and Papillion sites.
By highlighting the redacted boxes with a cursor and copying the hidden text, the report shows Agate LLC’s peak demand at 52.65 MW and annual water use at 13.299 megagallons (about 13 million gallons), roughly 20 Olympic‑size swimming pools and less than half of what the City of Lincoln reported on the same day.
As of September 30, the six reporting data centers together consumed 765 million gallons of water, enough to fill about 1,159.93 Olympic‑size pools.
The highest water consumer is Fireball Group LLC, the Google data center in Papillion, reporting 547.88 megagallons for 2025.
Further redaction reveals expected 2025 tax refunds: Agate LLC anticipates $55,822,472, Fireball LLC $39,171,573.39, and Westwood Solutions LLC (Omaha) $22,558,881.
Agate LLC’s documents list a gross floor area of 288,530 sq ft—approximately five football fields.
Governor Jim Pillen’s July 20 executive order mandates data centers to self‑report impacts on Nebraska’s water, power grid, and infrastructure, with reports due September 30. The filings can be accessed in the DEQ system by searching for “DCR”.
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