Apple is apparently considering building a new data center on a 160 acre plot in Oregon. The Prineville location would put Apple’s data center near similar facilities for Facebook, Google and Amazon.
Apple is considering the new data center to supplement its North Carolina facility, according to The Oregonian. The paper’s sources claim Apple has until the end of December to decide whether or not to buy the land needed for the center.
Apple may have plans for an Oregon data center
Oregon’s tax laws make the state enticing for companies wanting to build large data centers because they don’t have to pay equipment and property taxes on the facilities.
With the number of high tech companies building in the Prineville area, however, electricity has become a concern. The Bonneville Power Association, which provides electricity for the area, needs to expand to meet the potential power requirements for the massive server farms. Plans to boost electrical transmission are in the works, but are still a couple of years out before completion.
Local officials said planning documents for the data center put Apple’s power needs at 31 megawatts.
Apple hasn’t committed to purchasing the land for the data center yet, but a decision is expected soon.
I’m hopeful,” said Crook Country planning director Bill Zelenka. “They seem pretty serious about it.”