Microsoft's New Data Center in Texas

Via siliconvalley.com -

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Microsoft Corp. announced Thursday that will build a $550 million data center here to house its growing online services.

The 400,000-square-foot facility will be the software giant's first major data center in Texas.
The data center will house tens of thousands of computers to host Internet services like Microsoft's Windows Live offerings, which include everything from instant messaging to e-mail, said Mike Manos, Microsoft senior director of data centers.

To entice Microsoft, which will eventually employ about 75 people at the site, the city approved a tax abatement package that will run over the next 10 years.

Mayor Phil Hardberger said the incentive will help turn vacant land within the city into a revenue-producer, bringing more tax dollars to the city and the schools. The data center will also use electricity from the municipal power company, generating roughly $1.4 million extra annually for San Antonio.

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Thanks for Fergie for the heads up...