Developing Data Centers
The Sacramento region is expanding , attracting new businesses and industries . With the increased need for technology for industrial-sized operations , the demand for state-of-the-art data centers is also increasing .
Data centers are used for cloud storage , firewalls , servers and hosting websites — pivotal for a growing world dependent on technology .
Sacramento ’ s Prime Data Centers at McClellan Park recently announced plans to add a 150,000-square-foot data center to its campus later this year , with 16 megawatts of critical capacity and the ability to deliver power from 100-percent green energy sources . According to a press release , the existing 8-megawatt facility opened in 2020 and is now being leased by a publicly traded global enterprise .
Sacramento has very little data center presence compared to larger areas like Silicon Valley , Los Angeles , Virginia and
China , but the area has a lot to offer . Jon Falker , marketing director at Prime Data Centers , says with seismic risks on the coast and soaring rent and electricity prices in larger cities , businesses are drawn to the area for their data storing needs .
“ Electricity is the single largest operating cost for a data center ,” Falker says . “ SMUD rates are less expensive and we operate on a wholesale level , so a lot of cost savings are passed directly to our customers .”
According to the Prime Data Centers website , the Sacramento location offers a computer network optimized to process at high speeds to major West Coast markets like Los Angeles , Las Vegas , Phoenix and Reno .
Hundreds of jobs will be created once the ground has been broken on the $ 150 million new data center , which will take about a year to complete . Many businesses are showing interest in this second location , Falker says . With resources from McClellan
Park , the City of Sacramento and the Greater Sacramento Economic Council , Prime Data Centers is looking forward to making use of the local talent and entrepreneurial spirit in the area . “ We are excited to get this project underway ,” Falker says .
Lloyd Levine , T-Mobile senior strategist for business and former California state legislator , says the tech industry is in growth mode and expects more data in the area .
“ Everything is shifting to digital ,” Levine says . “ Volumes and volumes of data need to be stored . It ’ s expanding rapidly , and one constant that I foresee going forward is the need for data movement and storage . Technology touches everything . For any region , technology is going to be an increasing influence , necessity and skill .”
— Jessica Hice
February 2022 | comstocksmag . com 79