New Albany’s growing reputation as an ideal location for multinational data center operations just got another boost when Facebook recently announced plans to build its fourth and fifth data centers in the city, bringing its total investment to $1 billion. One of the world’s leading enterprise data operations, Facebook touted its expansion plans as digital traffic began to flow at its first data center here during its recent grand opening.

The new facility uses 38 percent less electricity and 80 percent less water than industry average. It is cooled using outdoor air and direct evaporative cooling systems. The new data center also features the company’s latest Open Compute Project hardware designs. Facebook’s first two buildings, each totally 450,000 square feet, are connected by 75,000 square feet of administrative space. A third building is already under construction. When the fourth and fifth buildings are completed Facebook will have invested a total of $1 billion in 2.5 million square feet of space here.

In less than two years, New Albany landed Facebook, Amazon Web Services and Google joining Nationwide Insurance, Motorists Insurance, Discover Financial, AEP and TJX in New Albany’s Information Technology & Mission Critical Cluster. AEP’s reliable, redundant, triple feed electric capabilities meet the energy needs of the most demanding data centers while the city’s robust, high speed fiber optics provide the necessary bandwidth capacity. The city also offers ample space for expansion and the ability to fast track permitting, development and construction timelines. With an increasing concentration of data centers and mission-critical facilities, New Albany’s IT cluster is among its fastest growing. AEP’s presence in New Albany, including a mission-critical facility for a 12-state region, data center and transmission headquarters, has helped fuel growth.