Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) plans to double its original investment in a huge data center in Lenoir to $1.2 billion, the company said Friday.
The search engine and technology giant also said it plans to participate in a new renewable energy plan being created by Duke Energy.
When asked by WRAL News about how many new jobs Google might create, the company declined a specific response.
“We can’t speak to the exact number of jobs that will be added in Lenoir,” a spokesperson for Google said.
“Google estimates hundreds of construction jobs will be created from the construction of the facility,” he added.
A huge data center built by Apple in Western N.C. includes a large solar farm and is adding other technology to decrease reliance on standard power resources such as goal. Google also stressed in the announcement that it is deploys energy efficient technology at its global data centers.
Governor Pat McCrory participated in the Google announcement at the Lenior facility.
“It is great news for Caldwell County and our state that Google has decided to expand its operations in western North Carolina,” McCrory said.”They are a valuable economic resource in the area and a great example of a company that prioritizes environmental stewardship.”
North Carolina has become a popular site for big data centers since securing the first – Google – in 2007 with tax incentives totalling well over $200 million. Google invested $600 million in the original site and has so far created some 110 jobs. Initial projections were it would hire more than 200 people. The site was expanded with another building in 2010.
“North Carolina and the Lenoir community are great places in which to work and grow,” said Google’s Data Center Operations Manager Enoch Moeller. “When Google builds a data center, it chooses a site large enough to accommodate growth and a site where we want to establish a long-term commitment to the local community. We are proud to be a part of the City of Lenoir and Caldwell County community where our employees live, work and play.”
Duke Energy said the renewable program’s details are still be worked out and that it will make a regulatory filing within the next 90 days.
The environmental group Greenpeace immediately embraced the Google-Duke announcement.
“Google’s announcement shows what forward-thinking companies can accomplish when they are serious about powering their operations with clean energy,” said Greenpeace International Senior IT Analyst Gary Cook in a statement.
“Before today, even large energy users in North Carolina were only offered dirty energy by Duke Energy: coal, nuclear and gas. In living up to its commitment of powering 100% of its operations with renewable energy, Google has given Duke Energy the push it needed to offer a Renewable Tariff which could finally mean access to clean energy for Duke Energy’s customers in North Carolina.”
