Facebook to Build $750 million Data Center in Huntsville
State and city leaders announced Facebook’s plans to build a $750 million data center in Huntsville. Gov. Kay Ivey discussed the project during a news conference Thursday in Huntsville. Ivey’s office said the center will employ 100 people with an average annual salary of nearly $80,000.
Ivey said she was pleased that a “forward-thinking, major company like Facebook” was putting down roots in the state.
Facebook created a page about the project. The social media giant said the 970,000-square-foot data center will begin operations in 2020.
Matt VanderZanden, director of site selection at Facebook, said the Huntsville site was attractive because of a strong talent pool and availability of clean and renewable energy.
The company projected the data center will have a strong economic impact on the area. “We are proud to say a recent study found that for every 1 million dollars in operating expenses at our data centers, there are 13 jobs supported in the economy,” a company statement said. “And for every 1 million dollars in capital expenditures, there are more than 14 jobs supported in the economy.”
The project has been under development for the last year under the codename “Starbelt.” The Huntsville City Council last month unanimously approved Facebook’s purchase of the site for $8.5 million.
These researchers think the sludge in your home may help save the planet
What if the solutions to some of Earth's biggest problems could be found in some of its smallest creatures? That bet has led a team of researchers to places both remote and — lately — rather familiar.
Los Tigres del Norte share the pride of selling out Madison Square Garden with its fans
Los Tigres del Norte has played almost every single place in the country — from armories to rodeos, in big cities and small towns. But they've never played Madison Square Garden.
How a Los Angeles camp made space to let kids be kids after the wildfires
After the wildfires destroyed homes and disrupted routines, many parents saw behavioral shifts in their kids. Some families found support in a camp designed to help kids affected by natural disaster.
Trump’s $5 million Gold Card offers the rich a fast lane to residency
Foreign nationals with $5 million to spare will be able to register for a "gold card" visa that would give them the right to live and work in the U.S. But details about the program remain unclear.
Months after Hurricane Helene, some North Carolinians still struggle to find housing
Eight months after Hurricane Helene, communities in western North Carolina still see evidence of the storm's destruction. For many, the biggest problem remains finding an affordable place to live.
The GOP megabill is moving to the Senate, where big changes could be in store
GOP leaders hope to have the sweeping bill to President Trump's desk by July 4, but some Senate Republicans are speaking out about what the bill would mean for the debt and Medicaid.