Wind Farm To Power Facebook Data Center In Nebraska

WAKEFIELD, NE — A wind farm is coming to rural Dixon County to power Facebook's planned data center in Papillion, Nebraska, near Omaha. The social media titan is partnering with Trade Winds Energy to build the Rattlesnake Creek Wind Project, Facebook announced last week.

The wind farm will create 320 megawatts of power and 200 megawatts will be allocated to the data center. The remaining will be available for sale.

The project will produce the second-largest wind farm in Nebraska, behind the 400-megawatt Grande Prairie project in Holt County, officials said. The new wind farm will generate enough energy to power 90,000 homes.

Both projects are examples of the state's rich wind resource being acknowledged, said David Bracht, director of the Nebraska Energy Office.

"The wind projects that have been installed (in Nebraska) have shown themselves to be very, very productive," Bracht said.

A new electric rate structure rolled out in January by the Omaha Public Power District means Facebook can power its data center with 100 percent clean energy. The company also aims to get at least 50 percent of its total electricity consumption from clean and renewable energy sources in 2018.

Neither Facebook nor Trade Winds provided a timeline or cost for the wind farm.

Photo credit: Pixabay