By Laura Hyde |
Microsoft is to purchase approximately 3,200 acres of land to expand its datacentre footprint in Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA. The land is located southeast of downtown Cheyenne, with 200 acres situated in Bison Business Park and 3,000 acres in Southeast Cheyenne, adjacent to the 200-acre parcel accessible through Wapiti Trail.
Across Cheyenne, Microsoft has committed over $68 million in completed and future off-site infrastructure improvements, including roadway and storm sewer improvements, trail roadway and greenway improvements, new pump stations and improved municipal water infrastructure.
“Since the development of our first datacentre in 2012, Microsoft has been working to strengthen, not strain, the community of Cheyenne,” said Bowen Wallace, corporate vice president of datacenters for the Americas region at Microsoft. “We’re excited to continue our growth in the state bringing more investment, opportunity and tax revenue to the community we’ve been a part of for more than 14 years.”
Microsoft expects the project’s planning and development to take multiple years, beginning with formal public hearings which will enable it to engage with the community and hear directly from residents.
“This is the latest in a long line of investments that Microsoft has brought to the city of Cheyenne as a member of our community since 2012,” said Mayor Patrick Collins. “Microsoft recognises the strength of our city’s workers, infrastructure and economy. This expansion represents the next decade of opportunity and tax revenue that secures the quality of life that residents of our city enjoy.”
Microsoft has partnered with Black Hills Energy to ensure the development doesn’t negatively impact electricity prices. The two have developed the Large Power Contract Service tariff, which requires Microsoft to directly pay for all the infrastructure upgrades as well as the power procured by the utility necessary to serve Microsoft’s load. Microsoft will also continue to work with Western Electricity Coordinating Council to bring additional wind and other carbon-free electricity to its datacentre operations.
To minimise water use, Microsoft will leverage the latest datacentre designs which use water for cooling less than 10 per cent of the year; some designs even eliminate the need for ongoing access to water for cooling after an initial fill. The firm also hopes to replenish more water than it uses with the help of its partners Trout Unlimited, Frog Creek Partners, the Laramie County Conservation District and the U.S. Forest Service.
Microsoft hope the project will create jobs for residents, with the initial infrastructure build-out requiring thousands of skilled tradespeople, including electricians, plumbers and pipefitters, carpenters, structural iron and steel workers, concrete workers, and earth movers. Once construction is complete, Microsoft will require hundreds of full-time employees in areas such as information technology, security and maintenance to operate these facilities. Microsoft will also train locals via its Datacenter Academy in partnership with Laramie County Community College.