[1st-mile-nm] Facebook Looking at NM for Data Center

[Richard Lowenberg]

Facebook looking at NM for data center

By Marie C. Baca / Journal Staff Writer
Friday, July 8th, 2016 at 1:06pm

http://www.abqjournal.com/804864/facebook-looking-at-nm-for-data-center.html

Facebook is considering New Mexico as one of two states for a new data 
center, according to a regulatory document filed by the Public Service 
Company of New Mexico on Friday.

The filing with the Public Regulation Commission, states that PNM was 
approached by Facebook about a proposed data center within the state and 
that Utah is also in contention for the center.

Facebook wants to get all of its energy needs for the data center 
through renewable resources, according to the filing. PNM, in turn, is 
requesting an expedited approval process for recovering from Facebook 
the costs associated with providing the energy, which would include a 
new solar facility.

Facebook “is also considering locating its new facility in another state 
and has informed PNM that the state which is best able to meet its 
requirement will be the state chosen by the Customer for building its 
new data center,” Thomas J. Wander, utility senior project manager, said 
in an accompanying letter.

The Los Lunas Village Council late last month approved up to $30 billion 
in industrial revenue bonds for a data center. The IRB request described 
a “large, publicly traded, multi-national internet company,” but did not 
say which.

“It’s big news,” said Mariel Nanasi, executive director of New Energy 
Economy, which has opposed many of PNM’s proposals. “Finally, green 
energy may actual be coming to the state in a real way.”

Nanasi said PNM forwarded the filing to her and other individuals who 
had been intervening parties in other PNM cases in an attempt to begin 
gathering support for the project.

PNM, Facebook, and the PRC could not be reached for comment.

This is a developing story, which will be updated as more information 
becomes available.


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Richard Lowenberg, Executive Director
1st-Mile Institute     505-603-5200
Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM 87504,
rl at 1st-mile.org     www.1st-mile.org
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