Report: Another Big Project Eyes N.C. Site

Another major data center may be coming to North Carolina. Officials in Cleveland County say the a "big name" company may build a data center at the T5 Kings Mountain campus, according to local media. Lawmakers from the region are working with state economic development officials to try and put together a winning proposal, according to the Shelby Star.

If a deal materializes, it would continue a strong of huge data center wins for western North Carolina, which is already home to server farms for Google, Apple and Facebook. The state has benefited from a combination of affordable power and generous tax incentives.

Excitement vs. Secrecy

State officials refused comment on chatter that a brand-name company would locate a data center in Cleveland County, while local officials were sought to balance excitement and the secrecy typical of these projects.

“There is possibly a huge announcement coming for the area of Cleveland and Gaston counties,” state Rep. Kelly Hastings wrote on Facebook. “You will recognize the name."

"I can neither confirm nor deny anything,” State Rep. Tim Moore told the Star, "but I do know the answer."

T5 is a data center development company led by former data center specialists with The Staubach Company. The company is focusing on North Carolina, and marketing multiple sites for major end users. T5 is currently building a second data center at its Kings Mountain campus, where IT outsourcing firm Wipro leased its first building.

Affordable Power, and Lots of It

T5 has just finished construction on a 146,000 square foot powered shell on a parcel at KingsMountain that can support nearly 600,000 square feet of  data center space. The site has up to 120 megawatts of power available from Duke Energy at rates between 3.9 and 4.6 centers per kilowatt hour, according to T5.

That type of power cost and capacity has been a key factor in helping North Carolina winning a series of major data center deals. Here’s a recap:

With those major industry players already in place, who might the new prospect be? Stay tuned.