EdgeConneX: How Data Centre Companies can Protect Water
The restoration project by EdgeConneX and River Partners is designed to help transform the Hidden Valley Ranch in California, US into a sustainable ecosystem that protects wildlife, promotes biodiversity and ultimately drives economic growth.
As a pioneering data centre solutions company, EdgeConneX is proud of its commitment to sustainability, particularly as it aims to become a carbon, waste and water-neutral data centre provider by 2030.
River Partners is a leading non-profit organisation dedicated to ecological restoration and building climate resilience and thriving communities along major rivers across the state of California.
EdgeConneX will support the organisation in transforming roughly 350 acres of former dairy farmland into a vibrant ecosystem that supports both people and the environment.
“At EdgeConneX, sustainability is not just a goal but a responsibility. The Hidden Valley Ranch project epitomises our commitment to our Customers, People, Planet mission, showcasing how corporate and nonprofit partnerships can create lasting environmental and community benefits,” shares Andrew Brodeur, Vice President, National Real Estate and Sustainability Team Leader at EdgeConneX.
“We’re proud to work with River Partners to foster a greener, more resilient future.”
Building a sustainable future
The initiative is designed to rejuvenate flood-prone land by planting nearly 80,000 native plants and trees, replacing water-intensive crops with vegetation that fosters biodiversity while significantly reducing water usage.
Over the next three years, the company says that irrigation pumps will be phased out, further conserving water in a region where it is critically needed. The project will also expand habitat for native wildlife, including endangered salmon and monarch butterflies, while mitigating flood risks along California’s second-largest river.
Since its founding in 1998, River Partners has impacted nearly 20,000 acres of critical river landscapes across California and has the largest on-the-ground river-restoration footprint in the West.
It says that the Hidden Valley Ranch project is a critical part of its mission to provide cost-effective solutions that are natural and that benefit the community – confronting huge challenges like climate adaptation, water management and resilience.
“Restoring ecosystems like Hidden Valley Ranch is key to revitalising California’s water, wildlife and communities from the growing climate impacts that we’re witnessing every day,” says Julie Renter, President at River Partners.
“Collaborations like this one with EdgeConneX are essential to scaling real solutions that create immediate and enduring benefits for people and wildlife alike.”
How data centre companies can confront climate change
- Boost the local economy
- Create good-paying restoration jobs
- Foster tourism linked to the revitalised San Joaquin River ecosystem
Residents are expected to benefit from enhanced recreational opportunities and a healthier environment, demonstrating that sustainability initiatives can deliver tangible benefits for communities.
It also speaks to how data centre companies can get more involved with local communities and support sustainability initiatives. The Hidden Valley Ranch Project is one example of how EdgeConneX is eager to marry innovation with responsibility by making meaningful contributions to the regions where it operates.
The company says that collaborative efforts like this are crucial – particularly when it comes to California, as the state confronts the challenges of climate change and the need for sustainable water and habitat management.
It is becoming more necessary for data centres to recognise their environmental impact, particularly as AI booms and puts pressure on energy and water supplies.
Companies around the world are therefore starting to assess their sustainability pledges and commit to change – an example being Keppel DC REIT Ireland, which partnered with Mercedes to distribute trees to schools, community centres and hospices with electric vans.
The company has also committed to environmental initiatives like DCs for Bees, which distributes pollinator-friendly plants to schools and community groups.
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The larger technology giants are also seeking to lower their emissions, with Google recently saying in its recent Environmental Report that it is aiming to replenish 120% of freshwater consumption by 2030.