[Vision2020] New Apple data center to be solar powered

[Kenneth Marcy]

*http://tinyurl.com/lhgu2kc *

Apple to Convert GT Sapphire Glass Plant to Data Center

By Chris Lange    February 3, 2015 11:05 am EST

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) has announced that it will invest roughly $2 
billion to convert the former GT Advanced Technologies’ sapphire glass 
plant in Mesa, Ariz., to a large data center. Apple’s current core data 
center is located in North Carolina, but with increased demand for 
iTunes, iCloud, Siri and other cloud-based services, the server capacity 
needs to grow.

The facility had been owned by Apple the entire time of the partnership, 
through the GT bankruptcy, and it was under a lease-agreement for that time.

GT had originally entered into an agreement with Apple to produce the 
sapphire glass for the new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus series. The plant was set 
up in 2013. However, the company was not able to produce enough sapphire 
to meet Apple’s demands, which resulted in GT filing for bankruptcy last 
October.

It is worth noting that the planned $2 billion investment is one of the 
largest investments that Apple has ever made. Just this past year, Apple 
acquired Beats Electronic to the tune of $3 billion.

The tech giant is calling this new data center its “command center for 
global networks.”

*ALSO READ: Why Apple Is Selling Billions in Debt Again* 
<http://247wallst.com/technology/2015/02/02/why-apple-is-selling-billions-in-debt-again/>

Apple has offered to help find jobs for those that were affected when 
the factory initially closed.

This new facility is expected to employ 150-full time Apple employees, 
as well as adding around 500 construction jobs. In terms of energy, the 
new facility will be exclusively powered by renewable energy sources. 
The expected power consumption from the proposed center is 70 MW, or 
roughly equal to 14,500 homes.

Apple said in a statement:

    This multibillion-dollar project is one of the largest investments
    we’ve ever made, and when completed it will add over 600 engineering
    and construction jobs to the more than 1 million jobs Apple has
    already created in the U.S. Like all Apple data centers, it will be
    powered by 100% renewable energy, much of which will come from a new
    local solar farm.

Many media reports had Apple being very aggressive in the GT bankruptcy. 
Our view at the time was that Apple wanted to shield its business 
practices from being better understood, but maybe they just wanted the 
facility.

Shares of Apple were down fractionally at $118.21 in late Tuesday 
morning trading. The stock has a consensus analyst price target of 
$129.53 and a 52-week trading range of $71.82 to $120.00.

*http://tinyurl.com/lhgu2kc


Ken

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