FGGAM NEWS just received this news release from the office of New Mexico Governor Martinez:
JOINT RELEASE FROM FACEBOOK AND THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Governor Susana Martinez Announces Facebook to Build Massive High-Tech Data Center in Los Lunas
Facebook Chooses NM in Nationwide Search; State Plans to Make NM a High-Tech Data Center Hub
Los Lunas, NM — Today, Governor Susana Martinez announced that Facebook has chosen New Mexico for the site of its new high-tech data center in its nationwide search. The data center will be built in the Village of Los Lunas, and the project’s initial phase will bring thousands of long-term construction positions and an initial investment of $250 million in investment – with the potential for multiple phases down the pipeline, which would create more jobs and more investment. Long-term, the project has the potential to attract other high-tech companies to the state and transform New Mexico into a hub for data center activity.
“Facebook is a stellar, cutting-edge, high-tech company, and it’s an honor to welcome them to New Mexico,” said Governor Martinez. “Making our state more competitive for jobs and new investment is critical to growing our private sector and diversifying our economy. With the improvements we’ve made over the past several years, New Mexico is finally competing again, and in this case, it’s a big win for the people of our state and our economic future.”
In August of 2015, the Governor led an economic development team to Northern California to personally meet with company executives and highlight New Mexico’s growing competitiveness for jobs and investment.
“When we first sat down with Facebook executives 13 months ago, we weren’t even on their radar. But we made a strong case and laid out how competitive we have become,” continued Governor Martinez. “Two months later, we got the call and went straight to work. We competed. And, by working together at all levels of government, and with private partners like PNM, we have helped make New Mexico a home for one of the largest tech companies in the world.”
Facebook has committed to buying local materials and hiring local employees to the greatest extent possible, as it prepares to build and staff a facility that will span more than 510,00 square feet in its initial phase — with the potential to for multiple phases, which would create more full-time staffing jobs and construction positions.
“We’re thrilled to have found a home in New Mexico and embark on this new partnership with the State of New Mexico and the Village of Los Lunas,” said Tom Furlong, Vice President of Infrastructure at Facebook. “Everything here has been as advertised — from the great set of community partners and strong pool of talent to the opportunity to power our facility with 100% renewable energy. New Mexico is a great place to do business. We’re excited to announce this initial investment and look forward to future phases of development.”
Construction on Facebook’s data center will begin later this year, and it is expected to come online in late 2018. The facility will be part of the highly advanced infrastructure that helps bring Facebook apps and services to people every day.
“The people of Los Lunas are proud to call Facebook our neighbor,” said Village of Los Lunas Mayor Charles Griego. “As our community grows, we look forward to attracting even more high-tech jobs and significant construction projects to the area. We echo the Governor’s appreciation for Facebook’s desire to come to our state and the Village of Los Lunas and will continue to do everything we can to make New Mexico an outstanding place to do business.”
A testament to the cutting-edge nature of the data center project, Facebook will power the facility with 100% renewable energy created by new solar and wind farms. The renewable energy supply will initially be composed of three new solar facilities built by an affiliate of PNM, with additional wind and solar energy secured in the future. The new solar and wind energy farms would not be built without the data center investment, and they also bring additional jobs and investments to the region.
“Having been involved in this competitive process from nearly day one, I want to thank Governor Martinez and Mayor Griego for the leadership they have shown,” said PNM CEO Pat Vincent-Collawn. “From an energy standpoint, this is a game-changing economic development project, but beyond that, it’s a testament to the potential of New Mexico to attract some of the greatest companies in the world to our state.”
Among other reasons the company selected New Mexico for the project, Facebook cited the state’s competitive business climate, strong workforce, commitment to infrastructure investment, and opportunities for renewable energy development.
Since 2011, Governor Martinez has worked with the Legislature to cut taxes 37 times, including lowering the state’s business tax rate by 22 percent. The State has also invested in growing a robust job training incentive program to assist companies looking to grow or relocate in New Mexico, as well as established a sizable closing fund to better compete with other states for new jobs and business investments.
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FGGAM News also received this news release:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, and U.S. Representatives Steve Pearce, Ben Ray Luján and Michelle Lujan Grisham released the following statement welcoming news that Facebook will build its new data center in Los Lunas:
“We welcome Facebook to New Mexico and are proud to help secure this new investment in our state’s future. Facebook will bring innovative opportunities for our economy and much needed jobs. As a leader in energy development, New Mexico is an ideal fit for the new facility, which is planned to be powered with 100 percent renewable energy.”
Last month the New Mexico lawmakers sent a letter to New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (PRC) Chairwoman Valerie Espinoza underscoring Los Lunas, N.M., as a prime location for Facebook to build its new data center.
