Friday, August 13, 2021

From the Non-Profit City of Mesa Newsroom Mesa Now > More High-Voltage Hype on Mesa's Data Center Hustle

So tell me how the City's "new communication strategy" is going when there's no proof that all the salaried media specialists and all the public information officers produce the final product for publication. . . from what we can see they might appear incapacitated, otherwise-engaged, or either not quite ready-willing-or-able to write their own new press releases for public consumption >

*****This press release is courtesy of the Arizona Commerce Authority*****

ICYMI - Facebook Prioritizes Sustainability with New Data Center in Mesa

August 12, 2021 at 8:51 am
This press release is courtesy of the Arizona Commerce Authority ******

Facebook announced today plans to build the Facebook Mesa Data Center, a 960,000 square-foot facility that will be the company’s first data center in Arizona. Along with a projected $800 million investment, the project is expected to support approximately 100 operational jobs and up to 1,500 construction jobs at peak. . .

The Facebook Mesa Data Center will be among the most advanced, energy- and water-efficient data center facilities in the world and will be part of Facebook's global infrastructure that brings its apps and services to people around the world.

"We are thrilled to be breaking ground on our newest data center. Mesa stood out as a great location for a number of reasons. It has great access to infrastructure, opportunities for renewable energy development, strong talent for both construction and operations, and great community partners," said Rachel Peterson, VP of Infrastructure at Facebook. "Thank you to the Arizona Commerce Authority, the City of Mesa, the Eastmark Community, Salt River Project, Bonneville Environmental Foundation, the State of Arizona, and to all of our partners who have helped get us to today. We are excited to join the Mesa community and look forward to having a strong partnership for years to come."

With the new data center, Facebook is prioritizing sustainable, clean energy as well as local water conservation. Facebook's investment will support 450 megawatts of new, renewable energy projects at three sites in Arizona, ensuring energy for the facility is 100% renewable. In addition, Facebook announced plans to restore over 200 million gallons of water per year in the Colorado River and Salt River basins to restore more water than the data center will consume. The Mesa Data Center will use at least 60% less water than the average data center. . .

Before selecting Mesa, Facebook conducted an extensive, multi-year site selection process spanning numerous locations. The leading technology company chose Mesa for the city's strong pool of talent, accessible infrastructure and vibrant community. . .Arizona and Phoenix have evolved into a national leader for data center locations. Last year, an industry study ranked the Phoenix area no. 2 in data center growth. In addition, last month, Business Facilities ranked Phoenix third for data centers in its 2021 State Rankings Report.

Media contacts

Melanie Roe, Facebook, melanieroe@fb.com

Alyssa Tufts, Arizona Commerce Authority, alyssat@azcommerce.com

_____________________________________________________________________________

Bonneville Environmental Foundation

bef-verde

Bonneville Environmental Foundation is partnering with the Verde River Exchange.

Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) sells water offsets called Water Restoration Certificates

The Verde River Exchange offers groundwater users an avenue to reduce impacts to the Verde River by allowing them to purchase offset “credits.” Willing water users, or “sellers,” voluntarily agree to refrain from using a certain quantity of water for a defined period of time, and the reduction is translated into a Water Offset Credit. “Buyers” who wish to reduce their “water footprint” pay for the Water Offset Credit generated by the seller. The Verde River Exchange matches these buyers and sellers, and in so doing creates a voluntary mitigation program for Verde Valley water (Source).

See The Salt-Verde Valley Water Fund section below. . .

Partner of the Verde River Exchange.

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is interested in developing water markets across the globe, including Arizona.

They released a report in 2016, Water Share: Using water markets and impact investment to drive sustainability, funded by the Rockefeller Foundation.

This report includes a hypothetical model in which they partner with a farmer who agrees to cut consumptive use of water by 15%. Two-thirds of this could be leased or sold by TNC or other NGO to raise revenues for investors’ returns and to compensate farmers. Only the remaining third (of the 15%) is committed to environmental use. . .More from the report:

Payments for watershed service projects make up a significant portion of implemented ecosystem services schemes (many others relate to carbon). These schemes often involve water users paying “suppliers” for the delivery of clean, consistent water supplies.

Facebook announces 10th and 11th data centers at Prineville, Oregon campus amid renewable energy fight

Social network is having issues sourcing renewable power on campus due to regulation change

March 18, 2021ByDan SwinhoeBe the first to comment

datacenterdynamics.com

As part of the announcement, FB announced a new $60,000 grant for Crook County School District’s K-12 robotics program, and local politicians praised the company’s donations to education in the area.

Facebook faces renewables trouble in Oregon

The Prineville Data Center is supported by 100 percent renewable energy, including two solar projects located in Oregon. However, recent regulation changes could affect Facebook’s ability to offset its use of fossil fuels and prevent it from using energy certificates in the state.

Currently, the social network buys energy from Pacificorp and uses what is known as the 272 tariff scheme (also called Blue Sky Connect) which allows companies to buy renewable energy certificates to offset actual energy use.

However, as first reported by BizJournal, a recent change in regulations means Pacificorp isn’t issuing energy certificates while the company and the energy commission clarify the classification status of the 272 offering.

========================================================================

Here's an announcement by another source owned by a real estate company, The Klaus Team

(with 180 views)

Mesa News

Facebook joins Apple and Google with a Mesa Data Center

Your Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp posts will soon be housed in Mesa.

Facebook confirmed today its plans of constructing a 960,000 square foot Facebook Mesa Data Center worth $800 million which will become the company’s first facility in Arizona. This project is expected to support an estimated 100 long-term operational jobs and up to 1,500 temporary construction jobs at peak.

Known previously as “Project Huckleberry” and rumored to be Facebook, the company confirmed this morning that Facebook’s Mesa Data Center will be built on the SE Corner of Ellsworth and Elliot. Apple already has a massive facility at Elliot and Signal Butte, and Google is set to build their new data center on Elliot west of Sossaman. Numerous other cloud storage firms are either here or planning to build in the Elliot Tech Corridor as well. . .

Link reference: https://85209.com/mesanews/facebook-joins-apple-and-google-with-a-mesa-data-center/

85209.com

==================================================================

Governor Ducey Announces New Chief Operating Officer For State Of Arizona

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 12, 2021

Governor Ducey Announces New Chief Operating Officer For State Of Arizona

Sarah Pirzada Will Succeed Daniel Ruiz, Who Was Recently Named Chief Of Staff

PHOENIX — Governor Doug Ducey today announced the appointment of Sarah Rose Pirzada as the State of Arizona’s newest Chief Operating Officer, overseeing all state agency operations and managing the Governor’s cabinet.
“Sarah has been a dedicated member of our team since 2016, and she has made serving Arizonans and improving government efficiency her top priorities,” said Governor Ducey. “She is results-oriented, a team player and always looking for innovative ways to meet the needs of people all across the state. I know she will continue her track record of improving state government in this role, and I look forward to tackling the work our team has in front of us.”
Pirzada will succeed Daniel Ruiz, who was recently named the Governor’s Chief of Staff. As COO, she will join senior staff and report to Ruiz — her appointment marks his first staffing decision since he assumed the role.

Pirzada previously served as Deputy Chief Operating Officer since 2018.

“I’m deeply honored to be named the new Chief Operating Officer and continue Governor Ducey’s work to ensure that every single customer of the state of Arizona receives efficient, quality service — no matter when or where,” said Pirzada. “From expanding access to child care during the pandemic to strengthening workforce readiness, distributing the vaccine quickly across the state and much more, our team is committed to finding forward-thinking solutions no matter the challenge. I look forward to working with Arizona’s incredibly hard-working and service-minded state employees and agency directors, and I thank Governor Ducey for this exciting opportunity.”

Projects led by Pirzada include:

> Arizona Enrichment Centers, providing childcare to 5,954 essential workers’ children during the COVID-19 pandemic;

> Arizona’s Connected Workforce initiative, the sustainable transformation of over 15,000 state employees to remote work and reduction of the state’s physical footprint;

> Delivery of 100,000 masks to state employees and school districts in May of 2020;

> The vaccine management system customer service improvements.

> Additionally, Pirzada led the Government Transformation Office to support the successful deployment and sustainment of the Arizona Management System throughout the State since 2020.
Prior to her role as Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Pirzada worked in the Governor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting where she led the reform of statewide strategic planning.
Pirzada earned a bachelor of arts in sociology from Southern Utah University and master’s degree in public administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University.

Mask Alive Festival is Sunday Sept 19th @ Pioneer Park, Mesa

Nice to see a major public park, named after four founding families of a small group of Mormon 'Pioneers' sent by Prophet Joseph Smith to colonize parts of what is now the State of Arizona, be transformed for just one day for an annual celebration to share our rich diverse history.

Our Mission is to provide community engagement through unique cultural programs dedicated to the education, promotion and development of Chicano and Indigenous artists in Arizona. Our Vision is to celebrate diverse cultures and serve families with cultural arts education programs and festival events.