I have been having fun researching the top data center users, seeing how much power they use. One of the techniques I use is publicly disclosed information for USA data centers from the State Ecology groups who issue air permits for diesel generators.
Here is a news report on Washington State's ecology department issuing a permit for 13 diesel generators.
Generators OK'd at Microsoft data center in Quincy
The state Ecology Department granted Microsoft a permit to install 13 backup power generators for the expansion of its data center in Quincy in central Washington.
The Associated Press
QUINCY, Wash. —
The state Ecology Department granted Microsoft a permit to install 13 backup power generators for the expansion of its data center in Quincy in central Washington.
The diesel-powered generators would be used in case of an electricity outage.
The Columbia Basin Herald reports neighbors are concerned about air pollution from the generators. The department is requiring Microsoft to meet regularly with the school district and notify it when the generators will be running.
The state Ecology department is making this easier, creating their own news releases.
Microsoft Columbia Data Center receives air quality permit to expand
SPOKANE — The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) has issued the final permit allowing Microsoft’s Columbia Data Center in Quincy to expand operations.
The final permit, called a “notice of construction” order, follows a five-week public review and comment period that included a public hearing. The final permit contains revisions to address the concerns people expressed for air quality.
The notice of construction order is a formal approval document that allows Microsoft to install 13 new backup generators for use during power failures to support the facility’s data servers. The generators are powered by diesel engines. When all the new generators are installed, they will add the capacity for an extra 32.5 megawatts of backup electricity. That’s in addition to the 60 megawatts already available from the existing 24 generators installed in 2008.
Diesel engine exhaust particulate is a toxic air pollutant. Because of this, Ecology required a thorough evaluation of the health risks posed by the expansion project. This evaluation, called a “third-tier review of the health impact assessment,” required approval by Ecology Director Ted Sturdevant before the generators could be installed. Sturdevant approved the third-tier review on Aug. 20, 2010, and recommended approval of the project pending input from the public.
Based on the nearly 40 questions and comments received, Ecology changed the final permit to enable the community of Quincy to be well-informed about scheduled times and duration of maintenance testing of the generators.
“The final permit is built on sound science and a thorough, expert review,” said Greg Flibbert, Ecology’s project manager for the Columbia Data Center permit. “The questions we received from the public were well thought out and helped us make sure we had covered all the bases for protecting air quality while also ensuring that the local economy can gain from the benefits of Microsoft’s expansion.”
Part of the process for Air Permitting is public comment cycle like the Microsoft Quincy permitting.
Public invited to comment on draft permit for Microsoft Columbia Data Center expansion
SPOKANE - The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) invites the public to comment on a proposed “notice of construction” order (permit) for the expansion of the Microsoft Columbia Data Center, in Quincy. The notice is a formal approval document that allows the company to install 13 new backup generators for use during power failures to support the facility’s data servers. The generators are powered by diesel engines.
Diesel engine exhaust particulate is a toxic air pollutant. Because of this, Ecology required a thorough evaluation of the health risks posed by the expansion project. This evaluation is called a “third-tier review of the health impact assessment” and the director of Ecology must approve it before the generators are installed.
The Microsoft Columbia Data Center was built in 2008 after Ecology approved a permit for installing and operating 24 electrical generators, capable of producing 60 megawatts of emergency backup electrical power. The expansion would add 32.5 megawatts of backup electricity.
We'll how big the Dell data center is in its first phase when they get their air permits.