Data Center Incentives Advance in Two States

Proposed tax incentives to lure data center projects are keeping state legislatures busy these days. Here's an update on initiatives in two Midwest states:

Missouri - The Missouri House of Representatives Wednesday gave preliminary approval to a piece of an economic development bill that failed last summer and in 2010. On a voice vote, the House adopted a bill that would grant state and local tax exemptions on items related to data storage centers and server farm facilities. The tax breaks would apply to all utilities used by the centers as well as the cost of building or retrofitting facilities. From Missouri News Horizon.

Nebraska - State lawmakers wasted no time Thursday in advancing a bill to lure a billion-dollar data center to the state. State Sen. Abbie Cornett of Bellevue, the sponsor of the data-center incentive proposal, said a second large project is now eyeing the state, as well.
"I believe this bill is absolutely essential to building Nebraska and providing good-paying, high-tech jobs for the state," Cornett said. Nebraska is battling with Iowa for a data center known only as "Project Edge" that would cost more than a billion dollars to build. It's thought to be the largest new business prospect, in terms of dollars, in state history. From Omaha.com.