Why is N.C. such a draw for big data centers?

The Skinny blog is written by Rick Smith, editor and co-founder of WRAL Tech Wire and business editor of WRAL.com.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. – If you are among those who have wondered why North Carolina has become such a big draw for huge, power-hungry data centers, the technology website GigaOm offers answers.

Lots of them.

In a four-part series this week, reporter Katie Fehrenbacher takes an in-depth look at the Tar Heel state and why firms such as Google (the first), Facebook and Apple now have data centers here.

Her second report focuses on the top 10 reasons:

1. Low-cost power (61 percent of which comes from coal)

2. Reliable, available power.

3. Rural areas.

4. Incentives from counties and the state.

5. Available water.

6. Fast deployment.

7. East Coast traffic.

8. Close to an airport, major city.

9. The Lemming effect.

10. The climate.

Check out her series. It’s worth the investment of your time.