Meta data center officially goes live in Gallatin
GALLATIN, Tenn. (WKRN) — Gallatin celebrated the opening of Meta’s newest data center Thursday. Meta Platforms, Inc. — formerly Facebook, Inc. — is bringing an economic boom to both Gallatin and Sumner County.
Among the many speakers who helped with the project was Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee. He shared a video message about his enthusiasm for the project.
Lee said,
The state with the workers will win every time, and I am proud to welcome Meta to Sumner County,
“I thank Meta for their significant investment in the Volunteer State, and look forward to our continued partnership, which will drive our economy and deliver even greater opportunity for Tennesseans.” Developers see Nashville’s riverfront as the ‘it’ place for future development
Since 2017, Gallatin leaders and Meta have worked to change the city’s future. The state of Tennessee and the Tennessee Valley Authority reached out to Gallatin about interest in a huge tech project.
Meta initially started the process of moving to Gallatin under the name Woolhawk, but in 2020, Woolhawk officially notified city leaders it was Meta.
Gallatin Economic Development Agency Executive Director Rosemary Bates said,
There’s part of you that is [like], ‘Oh my gosh, we are in a new level of competition now,
“The city of Gallatin is on the international radar.”
Construction on the data center started in 2020. The campus makes up four buildings, totaling more than 1.7 million square feet. Hendersonville draws homebuyers who work from home
Bates said,
Because of the work that we do and how Gallatin operates, we’ve attracted other companies that have chosen Gallatin,
“In particular, a Belgium company that is into technology. We have two other companies right in this industrial center, right next door and down the road, that are heavy in technology.”
The Gallatin Data Center announced on Facebook that it started serving traffic on Thursday, Nov. 14. That post also described the city as a home, saying, in part:
We chose this location because it offered excellent infrastructure, access to renewable energy, a strong pool of talent for both construction and operations staff, and great community partners that have helped us move forward quickly. Construction of the Gallatin Data Center has resulted in an average of 1,100 skilled trade workers on site at peak, and the facility currently supports over 100 operational jobs. Once fully built out, this facility will represent an investment of more than $1.5 billion in the state of Tennessee.
From the beginning, we have been committed to being an active part of the Sumner County community and investing in its long-term vitality. As part of that commitment, we are also announcing today a new partnership with Gallatin Shalom Zone to help restore the historic gym on the organization’s campus, which was previously the city’s all-Black Union High School. Gallatin Shalom Zone is a vital nonprofit serving Clearview Park, one of Gallatin’s most underserved neighborhoods. The renovation, which is being supported by a $250,000 grant from Meta, is part of a series of ongoing efforts to transform the facility into a nonprofit hub and resource center for the Clearview Park community.
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In terms of sustainability, the data center’s electricity use is not only matched with 100% renewable energy, but through its partnership with TVA, the facility said eight Meta-supported projects are adding 530 MW of new renewable energy in Tennessee.
In addition, 30 acres of native pollinator habitat have been planted on site to date. The data center said it is also teaming up with the Tennessee Environmental Council to install 6,000 square feet of pollinator gardens across Sumner County middle schools.
Gallatin Mayor Paige Brown said,
Since choosing Gallatin, Meta has consistently made meaningful contributions to our community, both in volunteer time and in monetary contributions — more than $1 million to our non-profits, the county school system, Volunteer State Community College and our local chamber,
“They consistently ask how and where they can help and follow through on their commitments. Gallatin is better with the partnerships of Meta and other businesses like them that are committed to being a positive contributor to our city.”
To learn more about Meta’s Gallatin Data Center, click here.
READ the latest news shaping the data centre market at Data Centre Central
Meta data center officially goes live in Gallatin, source
