Apple Inc to invest $2-billion in Arizona data centre
03 Feb 2015
Arizona governor Doug Ducey announced that Apple Inc would expand in Arizona, with a $2-billion investment in Mesa on a command centre for the company's global networks.
The facility would have a workforce 150 with 300-500 construction and trade jobs. Additionally, Apple would make significant investment to power the facility with 100 per cent renewable energy -- building and financing solar projects that would take advantage of the state's solar resources.
The projects would produce 70 MW of clean energy, enough to power over 14,500 Arizona homes.
According to governor Ducey, the expansion would bring a significant economic investment, and propel Arizona's position as one of the best states in the nation in which to do business.
Meanwhile, Reuters reported that Apple Inc said it planned to invest $2 billion to convert a failed sapphire glass plant in Mesa, Arizona into a data command centre.
Apple had set up the plant in partnership with GT Advance Technologies Inc, to manufacture scratch-resistant sapphire screens.
But the plant had to be closed down last October, after the company's sapphire glass was left out of Apple's new iPhones.
"This multi-billion dollar project is one of the largest investments we've ever made," Apple spokeswoman Rachel Wolf said in a statement on Monday.
