In its first major Arizona investment, Facebook has announced it plans to build a 960KSF, $800M data center in Mesa on Ellsworth Road north of Elliot Road.
The Greater Phoenix area, and Mesa in particular, have become nationally recognized for data center developments, particularly in the area in and around the Elliot Road Tech Corridor. Facebook officials said Mesa was selected because of infrastructure, workforce and support from various government outlets. Mesa is not providing financial incentives for the development.
Facebook has 14 data centers in the U.S. The company has pledged the Mesa facility will be among the world’s most efficient in terms of energy and water use.
Given their high volumes of water and energy consumption, data centers have raised sustainability concerns from environmentalists and some government officials. Mesa Vice Mayor Jenn Duff, who voted against the Facebook project in May because of sustainability concerns.
Company officials have said the center will use 60 percent less water than a standard facility, recycling water multiple times. The company has also invested in three projects that will store more than 200 million gallons of water annually in the Colorado and Salt River basins. (Source)
