Apple to build another data centre

Stephen Withers
Wednesday, 22 February 2012 16:51

Apple has confirmed that it will be building another data centre, this time in Prineville, Oregon.

Not content with its massive data centre in North Carolina, Apple has confirmed that it plans to build another in Prineville, Oregon. This would give the company a large data centre on the East and West Coasts of the US.

News of the plan emerged when a deed filed with the county clerk's office showed Apple was the purchaser of a $US5.6 million, 160 acre (65 hectare) piece of land.

An Apple spokesperson subsequently confirmed the company's intention to build a data centre. There is an expectation that the centre will be a green design, perhaps with a large-scale solar array as planned for the North Carolina data centre. According to a state government publication, solar panels in Oregon can generate between 1000 and 1250 kilowatt hours per 100 square feet (9 square metres) of collector area. Although Oregon is relatively cloudy, its comparatively cool climate improves the efficiency of photovoltaic panels.

The deed was signed the same day that the Oregon Senate passed legislation that would prevent the state levying property taxes where counties had granted tax breaks. Facebook already operates a data centre in the area.