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Back in February, Apple announced plans to build a new data center in Prineville, Oregon, and by late April it was revealed that Apple had agreed to invest $250 million in the project. The company has already begun installing modular data center buildings at the site while it continues to work toward permanent facilities.
The Associated Press now reports that Apple has filed its plans with the city of Prineville, revealing its goal of constructing 500,000 square feet of data center space, on par with Apple's facility in Maiden, North Carolina.
The plan shows two buildings with more than 500,000 square feet of what are described as "data halls," The Bend Bulletin reported Wednesday. The plan doesn't say when Apple might start building.
"They really didn't say how long they are looking at," Prineville senior planner Joshua Smith said.
A company spokeswoman, Kristin Huguet, referred Wednesday to the company's early statements on the development, which forecast "hiring dozens of people and bringing hundreds of construction jobs to the area" but didn't set a construction schedule.
The report notes that Apple is also partnering with Prineville on expanding the city's water supply by tapping a newly-discovered underground stream. Under the deal, Apple will help convert some existing test wells into production wells to meet the company's needs and beyond, with the city reimbursing Apple over time.
Top Rated Comments
Not really no. Ever been to Oregon? That part of the state doesn't get a lot of regular sun.
In fact, this location makes no sense to me whatsoever. Connectivity out there is going to be expensive, not near a big exchange, the nearest city is really Eugene and that's not very convenient, none of the hydro-power assets that are closer to Portland or any town that lines the Colombia. Am I missing something?
I don't think you've spent much time on the Eastern side of the Cascades. Most people think of Portland when they think of Oregon, unfortunately. 2/3 of Oregon is high desert... and I mean dry desert. I believe we get over 300 days of sunshine. I think we've had three cloudy days here the whole summer. Only the left 1/3 of the state (where the majority of the population is) gets a lot of rain. The closest 'large' town is Bend, about 25 minutes away, and they have 80,000 people just in the city limits. The FaceBook Data Center is pretty much next door to Apple's thing. We have a lot of rivers and hydro on this side of the mountains, and the remainder of the power comes from the Bonneville corporation near the Columbia.
Not really no. Ever been to Oregon? That part of the state doesn't get a lot of regular sun.
In fact, this location makes no sense to me whatsoever. Connectivity out there is going to be expensive, not near a big exchange, the nearest city is really Eugene and that's not very convenient, none of the hydro-power assets that are closer to Portland or any town that lines the Colombia. Am I missing something?
Yes.
You're missing one of the countries biggest wind arrays stretched out all over eastern Oregon and the fact that Apple is using solar panels. This part of Oregon gets more sun than you might think.
Big data centers on each coast. Obviously NASA doesn't know where the big asteroid is going to hit so Apple is going to store everyone's data in two places hoping only one coast has the 2 mile high tidal wave. ;)
Oh wait, I DID see the movie....it is the east coast!!! Now it all makes sense......
Sounds like more business for Sunpower and their solar panels!
Trees beware.