Dell Opens Quincy Data Center

Dell Services has opened its new data center in Quincy, Wash., a key component of a global data center expansion to support the company's push into cloud computing services. The first phase of the project features 40,000 square feet of data center space.

The Dell Western Technology Center is a multi-client facility with redundant network connectivity, uninterruptible power supply (UPS), cooling, utility and back-up emergency power generation. It is built with the largest installation in the U.S. to use a “heat wheel,” also known as a rotary heat exchanger. The heat wheel is a refinement of existing approaches that take advantage of outside air to improve cooling efficiency – which slashes data center power bills by reducing the need to use power-hungry chillers for air conditioning.

“Dell is proud to be listed as one of the top Green IT companies in the world,” said Patrick Mooney, executive director, Dell Services. “Our efforts to optimize the Power Usage Effectiveness at our Western Technology Center appeals to customers who want to consider the impact to the environment when configuring their IT solutions and to our environmentally conscious team members who participate in green initiatives across Dell.”

“The Dell Western Technology Center extends our cloud services and delivery capability,” said Kevin Jones, vice president, Dell Services. “By providing customers the technology they need — without up-front costs and complex maintenance — we can take a tremendous burden off their IT staff, enabling them to innovate and deliver high-value services that drive real business results.”

Quincy has become a magnet for data centers because of its abundant supply of cheap, “green” hydro power generated by area dams, with some companies paying as little as 2 cents per kilowatt hour for its power in Quincy. Because of the volume of electricity used by major data centers, the price of power has an outsized role in the site selection process. Quincy is also ideal for free cooling, in which companies use cool air from outside the building to cool the servers, rather than air conditioners.