Meta opens new data center in Kuna, Idaho
Meta celebrated the grand opening of its new 750,000-square-foot data center in Kuna, Idaho, highlighting its economic benefits and environmental efforts. The project created 1,600 construction jobs and an estimated 100 permanent positions, along with significant community investments. Meta also revised its cooling plans to use a closed water loop system, drastically reducing water consumption and investing $100 million in local water infrastructure.
Meta recently celebrated the grand opening of its new 750,000-square-foot data center in Kuna, Idaho, an event attended by community members and policy experts. The facility, which began construction in 2022, serves as physical infrastructure for Meta's applications and AI models.
The project created approximately 1,600 jobs during its peak construction phase and is expected to provide around 100 permanent positions, including electricians, HVAC specialists, and engineers. Meta collaborated with local officials, including Kuna Mayor Joe Stear, leading to a significant change in the data center's design. The company switched from its original cooling water plans to a closed water loop system, which uses 87 times less water and aims for zero operational water use for most of the year, with a goal to be net water positive by 2030.
As part of its investment in the Kuna community, Meta constructed a new $100 million water and wastewater infrastructure for the city, which is designed to fully offset the data center's impact. Additionally, Meta signed President Trump’s Ratepayer Protection Pledge to prevent local residents' energy bills from increasing due to the data center's energy consumption. The company also contributed over $1.5 million to Ada County schools and local nonprofits, including $200,000 for STEM education initiatives at Swan Falls High School and elementary schools, in an effort to train future employees and prepare students for emerging job markets.
The article also touches on the broader economic impact of data centers across the country, citing examples like Loudoun County, Virginia, which has seen substantial public investment and property tax reductions due to data center revenue, and West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey's proposal to use data center tax collections to eliminate state income tax. The piece acknowledges the growing criticism of data centers regarding electricity, water, and infrastructure impact, which has led to moratoriums in various states, but positions Meta's Kuna project as a model for responsible development and economic prosperity.