Facebook has announced that its ninth data center is to be built in Papillion, Nebraska, and will be powered by 100% renewable energy.
Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts recently announced that Facebook selected Papillion, Nebraska as the site of its newest data center. In addition, construction of new wind farms in Nebraska will allow the company to power the facility solely through wind-generated electricity.
“We’re thrilled to have found a home in Nebraska and to embark on this exciting partnership,” said Tom Furlong, VP of Infrastructure at Facebook. “Everything here has been as advertised — from a committed set of community partners and strong pool of talent to the opportunity to power our facility with 100% renewable energy.”
The new facility will be Facebook’s ninth data center overall and sixth in the United States, providing the infrastructure needed to help support the 1.86 billion people on Facebook monthly. Company officials expect the 970,000 square foot Papillion campus to be online as early as 2020.
“Partnerships like this, with the state, local communities, and utilities like OPPD, cannot be overstated when it comes to economic impact for our region,” said Omaha Public Power District CEO Tim Burke. “By collaborating with one another and looking for solutions that serve the best interests of our entire community, we create tremendous value.”
Burke said OPPD was able to offer an innovative rate solution that would provide flexibility in how companies reach their renewable energy goals. “It’s an example of how we work to meet the needs of large customers, particularly those who seek more renewable energy,” he added.
Company officials anticipate region-wide ongoing economic benefits throughout the company’s building project in Papillion. Facebook data centers typically support more than one thousand local jobs during construction, as well as hundreds of long-term operational jobs.
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