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The location in Utah is between the state's two largest population centers. That picture looks back into a live-ammunition range for the Army reserves and up in

The location in Utah is between the state's two largest population centers. That picture looks back into a live-ammunition range for the Army reserves and up into mountains that are pretty much owned by a mining company (so no developments), but that doesn't reflect the reality around it. The location wasn't chosen for the space (sure, it's big, but there is a lot of federal ground around the US); it was chosen because of cheap, plentiful electricity and good connectivity to the Internet. If it's any consolation, there have been efforts underway to get the water rights for the NSA's Utah DC revoked[1]. Personally, I think it is deplorable that they built a data center that will use nearly two million gallons of water a day in one of the driest places in the US. It irks me every time I look across the valley and see it. 1. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/12/utah-lawmaker-nsa-data-centre-water-supply http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/12/utah-lawmaker-n... 2. http://fox13now.com/2014/04/25/bluffdale-releases-water-bill-for-nsa-data-center/ http://fox13now.com/2014/04/25/bluffdale-releases-water-bill...

fizgig 12y ago
I'm curious if the NSA data center and Google Fiber being planned for Provo, UT (of all the wasted places...) is coincidental.
- lern_too_spel 12y ago
  Google already explained why they chose Provo. The infrastructure is already mostly in place, and they can get it cheaply. http://www.provo.org/about-us/current-issues/google-fiber http://www.provo.org/about-us/current-issues/google-fiber Others in this thread have already explained why the NSA might build a data center in Utah.
- SoftwareMaven 12y ago
  Provo was looking to get out of the fiber infrastructure they owned after a failed attempted at state-wide fiber left them holding the ball. Utah has a very strong tech sector, of which Provo is one of the hubs. It basically gave them a nearly free entry into the Utah market, a market that tends to be much more business friendly than, say, the Bay Area. I fail to see how it could be anything other than coincidence (with the possible exception of good connectivity to the rest if the world).
tedunangst 12y ago
What could they possibly need that much water for? They can't build closed loop cooling? Can the water not be reclaimed afterwards and used for other purposes?
- SoftwareMaven 12y ago
  My understanding is some (most?) of the water is being reclaimed for city irrigation.

fizgig 12y ago

I'm curious if the NSA data center and Google Fiber being planned for Provo, UT (of all the wasted places...) is coincidental.

lern_too_spel 12y ago
Google already explained why they chose Provo. The infrastructure is already mostly in place, and they can get it cheaply. http://www.provo.org/about-us/current-issues/google-fiber http://www.provo.org/about-us/current-issues/google-fiber Others in this thread have already explained why the NSA might build a data center in Utah.
SoftwareMaven 12y ago
Provo was looking to get out of the fiber infrastructure they owned after a failed attempted at state-wide fiber left them holding the ball. Utah has a very strong tech sector, of which Provo is one of the hubs. It basically gave them a nearly free entry into the Utah market, a market that tends to be much more business friendly than, say, the Bay Area. I fail to see how it could be anything other than coincidence (with the possible exception of good connectivity to the rest if the world).

tedunangst 12y ago

What could they possibly need that much water for? They can't build closed loop cooling? Can the water not be reclaimed afterwards and used for other purposes?

SoftwareMaven 12y ago
My understanding is some (most?) of the water is being reclaimed for city irrigation.