Apple is ready to drop €850 million (about US$960 million) on a new data center in Athenry, Co Galway in Ireland, but local residents aren't pleased with the plan. Some residents think Apple is choosing the wrong location for its data center, plus they have concerns over power usage, noise, and traffic congestion.
Apple's planned Ireland data center meets with local resistance
The concerns stem from Apple's environmental impact statement, which details the company's plans to generate its own power for the 24,505 square meter (about 263,769 square feet) facility, new trees, landscaping, and an amenity walkway. It also notes Apple plans to build an outdoor classroom for Lisheenkyle National School.
The data center will include 18 generators surrounded by a 2.4 meter-tall (almost 8 feet) fence, which has residents worried will create unacceptable noise levels. They're also concerned about the noise from extra traffic in the area, according to the Irish Times.
Special interest groups in the area are also worried the data center will have a negative impact on local wildlife and livestock, and want Apple to commit to carbon neutral forms of transportation for job commutes.
Groups are also suggesting Apple should offer financial support for local parts of Ireland's national walking and cycling network, and that there could be "naming rights" discussions.
Assuming Apple overcomes local concerns and keeps its construction project on schedule, it should be completed in 2017. The project is expected to bring some 300 jobs to the area.
Whether or not the project stays on schedule, however, is up in the air because Galway County Council has decided to postpone their approval vote with collecting more information about Apple's proposal.