Facebook is all set to build a USD 750 million data center in Utah’s Eagle Mountain, near Salt Lake City, USA. With this move, Facebook aims to gain tax-breaks by building the hub in the region, create employment opportunities and entice clients by leveraging natural resources in the area.
According to Facebook, the one million sq.foot facility built in Utah’s Eagle Mountain will be using the Rocky Mountain’s power renewable energy tariffs and build the water infrastructure to generate electricity. They also claim that the region will provide them with a strong pool of talent to supervise the facility.
Speaking about this in detail, Rachel Peterson Vice President of Data Center Strategy, at Facebook, commented:
After a thorough search, we selected Eagle Mountain for a number of reasons — it provides good access to renewable energy, a strong talent pool and a great set of partners. Facebook is in it for the long game.
Facebook say that the region not only promised long-term business opportunities but also tax incentives to build the data center. They claim that Utah’s State Government had made amends to their land laws in 2016 to entice data center development in the region.
In retrospect, the decision makers are delighted to have made this bold move. Gary Herber, Utah State Governor said:
It is a significant opportunity. I don’t know if we can actually quantify all the benefits that are going to come to not only Eagle Mountain but Utah Valley and the state as a region. It’s going to help attract other opportunities for us to bring business here.
Industry analysts opine that this move by Facebook is apt since they gain from a geographic standpoint. It will be interesting to witness how the social media giant leverages this move.