Apple's Tim Cook to visit Des Moines for announcement of Iowa data center

Apple CEO Tim Cook is reportedly visiting Des Moines, Iowa on Thursday to help announce a new data center in Waukee, which will cost some $1.375 billion and occupy two buildings across 2,000 acres of land.

A press conference outside the Iowa Statehouse is scheduled for 12:15 p.m. Central time, the director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority told the Des Moines Register. At 1:30, Cook will join Governor Kim Reynolds in visiting students at the Waukee Innovation and Learning Center.

Although the data center is expected to create just 50 jobs — each paying at least $29.12 — state and local officials are reportedly awarding the company with $213 million in incentives. That includes a 20-year, 71 percent property tax abatement from the Waukee City Council, estimated to be worth over $188 million.

Apple will however have to provide $500,000 per building, per year to a public improvement fund, until "certain maximum contributions" are made.

As with the company's other data centers, Apple is planning to power the Waukee facility entirely using renewable energy, though it's not clear if Apple intends to use wind, solar, some other source, or a mix of several. Typically the company skews towards solar.

Apple's other U.S. data centers are based in California, Nevada, Oregon, and North Carolina. Outside the country is an operation in China, while two more are being pursued in Denmark and Ireland.

8 Comments

rhinotuff 65 comments · 9 Years

About 7 years ago

I would imagine they'll use wind power, that's very prevalent in that part of the state.

coolfactor 2332 comments · 20 Years

A "public improvement fund", eh? Yes, the public are definitely in need of improvement. :smiley:

I'm guessing that's public "land" improvement fund or something?

randominternetperson 3095 comments · 8 Years

coolfactor said:

A "public improvement fund", eh? Yes, the public are definitely in need of improvement. :smiley:

I'm guessing that's public "land" improvement fund or something?

Here's the legal definition for Ohio. I assume other states have similar definitions. http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/1311.25 "Public improvement" means any construction, reconstruction, improvement, enlargement, alteration, demolition, or repair of a building, highway, drainage system, water system, road, street, alley, sewer, ditch, sewage disposal plant, water works, and any other structure or work of any nature by a public authority."
In other words, "here's $1 million/year to add to your infrastructure budget."

Soli 9981 comments · 9 Years

1) Any word on where in the 2k acres they will have buildings?

2) I don't understand the reason for having the red sections. Is that the entire city or county which can't be narrowed down at this point? Is that just a photo found online? Is Apple going to own all 2k acres but only have buildings in a small part of the area purchased?

iqatedo 1811 comments · 21 Years

Soli said:

1) Any word on where in the 2k acres they will have buildings?

2) I don't understand the reason for having the red sections. Is that the entire city or county which can't be narrowed down at this point? Is that just a photo found online? Is Apple going to own all 2k acres but only have buildings in a small part of the area purchased?

How large an area would solar panels cover to meet the necessary fraction of the power requirements?