Facebook chooses New Mexico for new data center over Utah

Facebook revealed on Wednesday that it plans to open a data center in Los Lunas, New Mexico.

Facebook was also happy with the situation, which included New Mexico beating out Utah for the center. “Making our state more competitive for jobs and new investment is critical to growing our private sector and diversifying our economy”.

The massive social networking company has chose to build its newest data center in New Mexico, according to a press release from U.S. Sen.

West Jordan spokeswoman Kim Wells saidmcity officials hadn’t heard about the announcement until the New Mexico press release was issued, and they were scrambling Tuesday morning to contact state economic development officials, who have been a partner throughout negotiations with Facebook, to confirm West Jordan’s current situation.

Facebook, then represented as Discus, had been in negotiations with the city of West Jordan about building there. News of the social media giant’s decision to build in Los Lunas, just south of Albuquerque, comes after a roller-coaster contest between New Mexico and Utah to attract the facility.

“We welcome Facebook to New Mexico and are proud to help secure this new investment in our state’s future”. Facebook’s upcoming massive data center is rumored to operate on 100 percent renewable energy.

Amos did not return requests for additional comment. “This is a big win”, said Ralph Mims, the village’s economic development director. “We are optimistic that Facebook and its innovative peers in technology will recognize our strengths as a state, and we would welcome a partnership in the future”.

The Salt Lake County Council and Mayor Ben McAdams became the loudest critics of West Jordan’s offer to Facebook, concerned about the scope of the tax incentive and the almost 5 million gallons of water per day that would be required to be held in reserves for the 230-acre, 3.3-million-square-foot project.

The deal fell apart in August after some area leaders balked at the high cost of incentives and tax breaks required to entice Facebook to build in Utah.

But not 24 hours later, West Jordan leaders said Facebook officials expressed interest in “continuing conversations” with the city – meaning Facebook may have been willing to consider a new offer – though details of those conversations remained hazy.

New Mexico has agreed to not charge Facebook any taxes on the project for 30 years in exchange for annual payments from the company that start at $50,000 per year and increase to $100,000 in the later phases of the project.

“If you want to bring business in, you have to offer incentives”, he said.

When the Los Lunas facility opens, it will join other data centers that Facebook has opened over the years, including Clonee, Ireland (which should open by late 2017 or early 2018); Fort Worth, Texas; Altoona, Iowa; Forest City, North Carolina; Luleå, Sweden; and the original site in Prineville, Oregon.