Facebook to Add 1.8 MSF to Los Lunas Data Center

By Barbra Murray

New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez

The social media company has expanded plans for the Los Lunas Data Center, currently under construction just outside Albuquerque in Los Lunas, increasing the project size to a total of 2.8 million square feet and the price tag to a whopping $1 billion. 

“This expansion is good news for New Mexico and I’m proud to continue building on our strong partnership with Facebook as they create jobs and grow their investment in our state,” New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez said in a prepared statement. “This shows even more encouraging momentum, and we’ll continue using our powerful tools and reforms to compete for more jobs and investment.”

Facebook chose New Mexico for the data center in 2016. The original plan, bolstered by $10 million in Local Economic Development Act financing administered through the New Mexico Economic Development Department, called for a 510,000-square-foot building at a cost of $250 million. Less than one year later, in July 2017, the company announced it would expand the project with an additional 460,000-square-foot, $250 million facility. And per this week’s news, the Los Lunas campus will get four more buildings totaling 1.8 million square feet at a cost of $500 million.

All of Facebook’s new data centers are powered by 100 percent renewable energy, and the Los Lunas Data Center will be no exception. Affordable Solar is investing $45 million on the development of three solar farms to help support the Facebook campus.

“Facebook is having a tremendous impact on New Mexico,” Ben Cloutier, director of communications with the New Mexico Economic Development Department/New Mexico Taxation & Revenue Department, told Commercial Property Executive. “The company is investing over $1 billion, keeping 1,000 construction workers on site until at least 2023 and creating hundreds of permanent jobs. Not only that, but because of Facebook’s decision to move to New Mexico, more companies are giving our state consideration as a business location.”

A POTENTIAL TECH NEIGHBOR FOR FACEBOOK

Facebook may have to share the spotlight in New Mexico with another tech giant. Like so many states and municipalities across North America, New Mexico has submitted a proposal to host Amazon’s second headquarters, and metropolitan Albuquerque, the birthplace of Amazon CEO, is part of the offer.

“New Mexico has a lot to offer a company like Amazon. As companies like Facebook, Safelite and many others have found, we’ve improved New Mexico’s business climate by reducing taxes, removing burdensome regulations, and reinforcing our key economic development incentives,” Cloutier noted. “And, New Mexico’s mild weather and beautiful natural environment makes our state a perfect place do business as well as live, work, and raise a family.”

With Fortis Construction aboard as general contractor, construction of the first two of Los Lunas Data Center’s six buildings is already underway.

Photo courtesy of the New Mexico Governor Office