More Data Centers Coming to Quincy

There will be more data centers coming to Quincy, Washington, the small town whose cheap electricity is transforming it into a major hub in the Internet economy.

Base Partners Inc., a San-Francisco-based developer of data center properties, has acquired a 70-acre development site in Quincy, and plans to build up to 400,000 square feet of data centers for corporate users. The company plans a phased build-to-suit project of four data center facilities ranging from 50,000 to 200,000 square feet. Base Partners will offer tenants the option of using the latest energy efficiency technologies for their facilities.

"The abundant availability of low-cost hydroelectric power and fiber-optic lines as well as the region's stable geological setting clearly make Quincy a prime data center location," said Base Partners' Aaron Wright. "Power costs here are the lowest in the nation, equaling 1.8 cents per kilowatt hour, as compared to 12 cents per kilowatt hour in San Francisco and 6.2 cents per kilowatt hour on average in the U.S., resulting in significant savings to end users."

The project adds to the growing list of data centers in central Washington state, which already features projects from Microsoft, Yahoo, Sabey Corp., Intuit and Ask.com which will add a total of nearly 2 million square feet of data center space in the area.

The influx if data center projects is havin a significant economic impact in Quincy, an agricultural town of 5,300 residents. Real estate prices have risen sharply, with demand from prospective data center builders as well as residential developers hoping to build homes for well-paid IT employees.

"I know that a certain amount of that is pure speculation," Marc Straub, executive director of the North Central (Washington) Home Builders Association recently told the Wenatchee World. "But a lot of developers are investing a considerable amount of money into the Quincy market. They recognize that the demand is going to be there."

Base Partners' investment in Quincy is another step forward in its plans for a national network of data center properties. The company is developing a 119,000 square foot data center in El Segundo, Calif., a submarket of West Los Angeles. The facility is scheduled to be available for occupancy in early 2008. The company has also advised on more than 2 million square feet of data center space for various users.