20 Feb Facebook looks to double the size of its Los Lunas data center
Facebook’s data center in Los Lunas is looking to the double in size. The operation, which stores data for Facebook’s social media sites such as WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, opened in early 2019. It currently comprises three fully-operational buildings, a fourth due to come online shortly, and two more currently under construction.
Under this new proposal, the center could expand by a total of six new additional buildings, with plans to build two by 2023.
Through its subsidiary, Greater Kudo LLC, Facebook and the Village of Los Lunas are exploring these expansion plans. Greater Kudo LLC recently filed an application for six separate revenue bonds comprising $6.6 billion in total. The Los Lunas Village Council approved the intent to move the process forward in late January and will further consider it at its mid-March meeting. “The village staff and village bond council are dealing with Greater Kudu, LLC, and their staff and their bond council to develop an agreement,” said Los Lunas Mayor Charles Griego.”
The center currently employs 200 full-time employees or contractors. The expansion could represent a total of an additional 100 jobs according to a spokeswoman for Greater Kudo LLC.
There are the benefits to the local construction industry to consider. “Those next two buildings will cost about $800 million to construct and equip, and can help create ‘hundreds of construction jobs’ and up to 30 additional full-time employees once completed,” reports Matthew Narvaiz with Valencia County’s NewsBulletin.com.
Griego said that the Village is also taking the center’s role in economic development into consideration.
Through Facebook’s last round of grants sent, Los Lunas Schools and Belen Consolidated Schools each received $100,000 for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education.
“I was considering the economic benefits that we would have at this time,” Griego said. “Facebook has been donating to schools and other non-profits throughout the area to advance STEM education. I think it’s huge.”
For full details, read Narvaiz’s “Facebook looking to expand data center.”
