Uncovering the Truth: Data Center Frequently Asked Questions
Data Center Purpose
What is a data center?
Data centers are large warehouses that hold the servers and other computer systems that power many of the online services we use every day. They are essential for supporting these various online services, such as commercial businesses like e-commerce, banking, digital entertainment, essential services like 911/emergency response, hospital records and healthcare IT, travel organizations like airlines and so much more. They also power the essential technologies behind today’s precision agriculture and smart farming applications.
What is a powered data park?
A powered data park is a data center with dedicated power generation built alongside it. Instead of drawing electricity from the local grid, we build new power sources to meet the data center’s energy needs, which mitigates strain on the local grid. The project pays for the power infrastructure and any electric grid upgrades, so costs are not pushed onto local ratepayers. Geronimo Power operates the power projects long-term, keeping us invested in the community.
What is the lifespan of a data center?
Similar to energy projects, data centers are long-term community partners with typical lifespans of several decades. Over their operational lifetime, these projects create and sustain well-paying local jobs, including roles for data center technicians and maintenance personnel; generate significant local and state tax revenue; and boost the local economy by partnering with local businesses for supplies and services.
What is driving the demand for data centers?
Nearly everything you do on a smartphone or computer depends on a data center. Data centers are essential to core services that power today’s digital economy, from things we use every day (social media platforms like Facebook and ecommerce sites like Amazon), to the cloud computing that now powers businesses of every type, and the exciting new frontier of artificial intelligence (AI). This rapid growth has thrust America into a global race for AI and energy dominance, where fast and flexible solutions are needed.
Environment & Health
Will the data center impact local air quality?
Data centers are subject to strict state and federal air quality regulations to protect local and regional air. While data centers usually have some natural gas or diesel generators for emergency backup power, their use is very limited — and emissions are carefully controlled and subject to state and federal regulations.
How much water does a data center use, and is there enough water supply to support?
While some data centers use water for cooling, air-cooled systems are becoming increasingly common — especially in areas where water resources are limited.
Energy, Electric Rates & the Grid
How do powered data parks operate?
Powered data parks operate as a large, steady electric load. They demand a reliable, 24/7 supply of power at a large magnitude — often in the range of 400-500 megawatts. To put that in perspective, that’s enough to power roughly 400,000 households or support a population of 1 million people, based on numbers from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
How a Power Data Park works
Why co-locate an energy project with a data center?
By building new electric generator projects that are dedicated to a powered data park, we provide the data center with its own reliable power supply. Colocation allows the data center to get most of its power (typically 70-80%) from the energy generated right on the site or on a nearby property. The colocation solution is quick to deploy, maintains the electric grid’s reliability for the rest of America’s consumers, and keeps electric bills low.
What happens if a data center’s main power surge goes down?
Data centers will typically have a backup power source in place, such as diesel generators. These generators are for emergency use only, to ensure the data center can continue operating without interruption during a power outage. Their use is limited, typically only 10-15 hours per year, and their emissions are carefully controlled and subject to strict state and federal regulations.
What are the challenges data centers face around their high energy needs?
The availability of power is often the main obstacle preventing the development of data centers, which are vital for our economy. The rapidly increasing energy demands of our technology-driven economy are straining the existing power grid. It’s like trying to water a growing field with a single trickling well — the demand keeps rising, but the supply just isn’t there. To support the economic growth of our high-tech industries, we need innovative ways to meet these rising energy demands, such as building new electric generation alongside and dedicated to the data centers.
Do data centers compete with homes or businesses for power?
Data centers require significant power to operate. As the AI race continues to boom, those power needs will only increase. If new data centers supply their own new generation, their power needs should not disrupt power needs from existing residential and commercial ratepayers. This is why Geronimo Power is developing both data centers and electric generators: we are building economic development engines that pump money back into rural America, while protecting Americans from electric bill increases.
Noise, Lighting & Appearance
How large will a data center facility be?
While the specific size of each data center project can vary, data centers are facilities designed to house a large amount of computing infrastructure. In terms of the land that is needed, the data center campus will generally be sited on one or two sections of land, which is inclusive of generous building setbacks and landscaping buffers.
What will the data center look like?
Data centers typically resemble a large warehouse or a distribution center. They are designed to blend in with their surroundings and minimize their visual impact on the landscape. All buildings must follow local zoning and land use rules, incorporating landscaping, specific building materials, and other design elements to reduce their visual impact. They are secured (fenced in) campuses that allow for robust landscape screening around the perimeter of the site.
Will the powered data park be noisy?
Powered data parks are great neighbors and generally very quiet. Powered data parks are beholden to state and local noise limits, designed with significant distance from property lines and use noise reduction techniques like soundproofing and careful placement of equipment. This means that noise levels at the property line are typically very low.
Land Use
How are powered data park sites selected?
We take a “power first” approach to co-location, looking for good sites for energy projects — and then identifying a partner that will bring the energy demand. We evaluate potential sites based on several factors:
Interconnection
Locations with optimal access to the power grid, considering transmission congestion and available capacity.
Mutual relationships
Identifying communities and local economies where the powered data park and its energy projects can foster a long-term symbiotic relationship.
Land suitability
Finding land that meets the powered data park’s requirements and allows for efficient connection to dedicated power sources.
What are the security measures for a data center?
Data centers are highly secure facilities. Access to the site will be restricted through fencing and other physical security measures. There will also be robust cybersecurity measures in place to protect the data stored and processed within the facility.
Jobs, Taxes & Economic Impact
How do data centers contribute to economic growth?
Data centers are essential infrastructure that support a wide range of digital economic activities. They make possible everything from online shopping and communication to advanced research and new technologies, making them fundamental to our modern economy. They specifically support cutting-edge businesses, including many essential technologies used in precision agriculture and smart farming today. In short, modern agricultural technology wouldn’t be possible without powered data parks. Data centers also bring direct economic benefits to local communities through job creation and tax revenue. In fact, data center jobs in the U.S. increased by more than 60% since 20161 — and a recent study found that for every direct data center job, data centers provide a 6x multiplier of indirect or induced jobs across the U.S.2
How do data centers benefit local economies?
Local communities will realize significant economic value from data centers — both directly and indirectly — throughout the lifecycle of the project, from construction to decades of operation:
-
Tax revenue
Powered data parks generate significant tax revenue for the local community. This revenue can be used to fund essential local services such as schools, roads, public safety, and more. -
Job creation
Powered data parks create new jobs for the local area, particularly during the construction phase and with ongoing jobs during operations. These operational roles, which include powered data park technicians, facility maintenance personnel, security staff, and support services, provide new opportunities for future generations to stay in the rural communities where they grew up. -
Upgraded infrastructure
Powered data park development and construction often involves upgrades to local infrastructure, such as power lines, water systems, and fiber optic networks, which can benefit the entire community. -
Community support
The owners behind powered data parks typically prioritize and invest in supporting local communities through programs like work-force training, support for local infrastructure needs, charitable donations, and more. -
Support for local businesses
Powered data parks often rely on local businesses for supplies, materials, and services, providing a boost to the local economy.
Community Connections
Will the powered data park bring new roads and new neighborhoods to this area?
The powered data park project focuses on utilizing existing infrastructure and minimizing land use. Road upgrades to support the construction of the energy projects, if necessary, will be minimal.
Will data centers and powered data parks bring additional traffic?
As with any type of construction, during the construction phase of a data center and powered data park project, there will be an increase in vehicle traffic for equipment delivery and construction personnel. Permitting requirements demand that developers work with local road commissioners and county engineers to study if any roadway improvements should be made and to establish comprehensive road use and maintenance agreements to manage haul routes and minimize impact on local infrastructure. Once the project is operational, powered data parks typically have a small staff, meaning they have minimal long-term impact on local traffic patterns.
Who can I contact for more information?
For additional questions about Geronimo Power’s energy projects and powered data park projects, please reach out to us at 952.988.9000 or [email protected].
