Facebook Nebraska data centre to undergo 1mn sqft expansion

Facebook has announced it will expand its Nebraska data centre by a 1mn sqft, bringing the total size, when completed, to 3.6 mn sqft.

The news was announced in a post by Facebook, which claims the new expansion will bring in an additional $400mn in capital investment and 100 new operational jobs.

The social media platform also revealed that it will rename the centre from Papillion Data Centre to Sarpy Data Centre. 

In a statement regarding the decision, Facebook said: “We will maintain hundreds of construction workers on-site for years to come. This brings our total investment in Nebraska to nearly $1.5 billion and supports more than 300 total data centre jobs.

“At the peak of construction, we will have more than 2,000 construction workers on site. When construction is complete, the data centre will be 3.6 million square feet in total.

“With today’s expansion announcement, we’ve added 500+ acres of land in Springfield to expand our campus across Capehart Road to the south of the existing data centre campus,” Facebook said.

It has also been announced at the same time that Arbor Day Foundation, a not-for-profit conservation and education company, will provide Facebook with $100,000 to support tree-planting initiatives in Nebraska in 2021.

Commenting on their mission to provide more renewable energy, Facebook said: “Our data centre will continue to be supported by 100% renewable energy. 

“This is made possible through our investments in wind energy, including the Rattlesnake Creek Wind Farm in Dixon, NE. 

“Facebook’s entire global operation is on track to reach our goal of reaching net-zero emissions and our data centres are leading the way.

“We have seen firsthand how this community pulls together to support one another. All of us at Facebook are thankful for our partners and community members in Springfield, Papillion, and Sarpy County who have made it possible for us to continue to grow here in Nebraska,” Facebook said.