Energy Experts Call for Government and Industry Partnership to Address Growing Needs of Data Center Industry in New York

October 28, 2009

While New York State has expanded programs over the last year to address the energy needs of the growing data center industry, further steps are underway to ensure that the State can support the economic development of the data center industry while achieving Governor David A. Paterson’s energy and environmental goals, State and industry energy officials said today.

At a conference hosted at the Saratoga Technology + Energy Park® (STEP®) by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), energy experts noted that the State is working in concert with private business to improve the efficiency of Information Technology infrastructure to support the growth of the industry and to address the impact this critical market segment will have on New York’s energy needs.

"Improving energy efficient measures in data centers is absolutely essential for both the environmental benefits of reducing energy demands and for the economic benefits of reducing operating costs and improving companies’ competitive position in this growing industry,” said Francis J. Murray Jr., President and CEO of NYSERDA. “Under the leadership of Governor Paterson, government and business leaders—such as AMD and GLOBALFOUNDRIES—will continue to work collaboratively in partnership to promote energy efficiency to achieve energy independence, reduced carbon emissions, a cleaner environment, and a stronger economy for New York’s future.”

Murray said that with the financial incentives that have been provided to spur new product development, and programs to promote best practices for improving energy efficiency in data centers, the State has laid the groundwork for providing future growth of the data center sector in New York State.

NYSERDA’s partners in the conference, AMD and GLOBALFOUNDRIES, have been instrumental in driving sustainable computing and business practices in New York. AMD has been a leader in developing and deploying products that improve the efficiency of personal computers and IT hardware. Improvements in operating practices, coupled with installation of energy efficient systems, will result in significant energy savings and reduce the strain information technology and data centers place on the electric grid while ensuring a reliable and affordable supply of electricity.

"AMD and NYSERDA have the common goal to reduce energy consumption for consumers, businesses and public organizations,” said Rick Indyke, Director of Public Sector, AMD. “New York State is widely recognized as a leader in developing and driving new technology innovations through both public and private sector organizations. AMD is committed to working with NYSERDA, New York State, HP and GLOBALFOUNDRIES to deliver technology solutions that are energy efficient, helping save taxpayer dollars and reducing environmental impacts, without sacrificing computing performance.”

AMD’s microprocessors are manufactured by GLOBALFOUNDRIES, which is building an approximately $4.2 billion semiconductor manufacturing facility in Saratoga County at the Luther Forrest Technology Campus adjacent to STEP®. In addition, GLOBALFOUNDRIES is committed to pursuing energy efficient technologies in Fab 2.

From the financial engines that fuel Wall Street to the telecommunications infrastructure that powers cell phones and cable TV, nearly every customer sector depends on data centers . A study conducted by Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory in 2007 found that New York data centers consume an estimated 4.5 billion kilowatt hours of electricity per year—the equivalent of supplying nearly 700,000 single family homes with a year’s supply of electricity—at a cost to industry of $594 million per year. By improving the energy efficiency of data centers and working synergistically with AMD and GLOBALFOUNDRIES to improve the efficiency of IT infrastructure, the State can support economic development and make considerable strides toward achieving the energy and environmental goals advanced by Governor Paterson.

In March 2009, NYSERDA expanded its Industrial and Process Efficiency program that will invest more than $100 million in incentives over the next three years in new and existing manufacturing and data center facilities that reduce energy consumption. These funds will encourage sustainable load growth and significantly reduce the use of electricity and natural gas.

Governor Paterson has set goals of meeting 45 percent of the State’s electricity needs through improved energy efficiency and renewable energy by 2015 and to reduce current greenhouse gas emissions from all sources within the State 80 percent below levels emitted in 1990 by the year 2050.

CONTACT:

Sal Graven, NYSERDA
518-862-1090, ext 3331
sg2@nyserda.ny.gov