Review body requests more info before approving Apple's Irish data center
A planning organization backed by the Irish government -- An Bord Plean?la -- is reportedly asking Apple to provide more information about a number of issues before it approves the construction of a data center near the small town of Athenry.
A letter sent by an An Bord Plean?la executive to Arup Consulting Engineers, the firm managing the datacenter project, requested information in five specific areas, according to Business Insider. One of these is the choice of location.
"The proposed development is located in an unserviced rural area on lands outside of any settlement and which are not the subject of any specific development objective. It is considered that the applicant has not adequately addressed the issue of site location and the alternatives considered prior to selecting the proposed site," one section of the letter reads.
Apple and Arup have also allegedly provided no specifc data on renewable energy projects, and are being asked to revise an Environmental Impact Statement to address a power substation, all eight possible data halls instead of just the first, and the potential absence of "viable direct sustainable energy sources."
The letter also mentions previously-known concerns about wildlife, asking for the results of earlier ecological surveys and news on surveys to come. Lastly, Apple and Arup expected to submit data on soil, bedrock, and the local water table.
Although local government officials greenlit the data center in September, environmental activists appealed, putting the project on pause. An Bord Plean?la was brought in for an independent review, and was originally expected to make a decision this month but might not do so until May.
Apple and Arup have until March 7 to provide the additional information. Apple may be especially interested in accelerating the process, as the company has no native data centers in Europe, although an upcoming sister complex in Denmark could potentially serve as a stopgap.
A letter sent by an An Bord Plean?la executive to Arup Consulting Engineers, the firm managing the datacenter project, requested information in five specific areas, according to Business Insider. One of these is the choice of location.
"The proposed development is located in an unserviced rural area on lands outside of any settlement and which are not the subject of any specific development objective. It is considered that the applicant has not adequately addressed the issue of site location and the alternatives considered prior to selecting the proposed site," one section of the letter reads.
Apple and Arup have also allegedly provided no specifc data on renewable energy projects, and are being asked to revise an Environmental Impact Statement to address a power substation, all eight possible data halls instead of just the first, and the potential absence of "viable direct sustainable energy sources."
The letter also mentions previously-known concerns about wildlife, asking for the results of earlier ecological surveys and news on surveys to come. Lastly, Apple and Arup expected to submit data on soil, bedrock, and the local water table.
Although local government officials greenlit the data center in September, environmental activists appealed, putting the project on pause. An Bord Plean?la was brought in for an independent review, and was originally expected to make a decision this month but might not do so until May.
Apple and Arup have until March 7 to provide the additional information. Apple may be especially interested in accelerating the process, as the company has no native data centers in Europe, although an upcoming sister complex in Denmark could potentially serve as a stopgap.
Comments
It seems like the answer is, no. Europe doesn't want Apple.
I can assure you that the wretched An Bord Pleanála is as much a thorn in the side of anyone who want's to do anything in this country. They even scuppered plans for a national children's hospital a few years ago. They are a bunch of Luddites that the Irish government doesn't seem to have the balls to question or overhaul.
That said, I would be interested to know why they want to plonk such a facility in basically the middle of farm land where there is literaly nothing nearby except a motorway, some cows, sheep and the odd farmhouse. I'm sure there is a good reason, just wondering what it is.
Those "five specific areas" of questions are so 'basic', I don't understand how the project could even have gotten to preliminary consideration without that stuff being addressed.
I mean, Ireland 'ain't China...
"How big is Apple’s new iDataCenter in Maiden, North Carolina? It’s plenty big, as illustrated by this aerial video posted to YouTube (apparently taken by an area realtor) of the 500,000 square foot facility. "
That center is built on 255 acres. Also the climate, cool, is noted to be inherently suitable for a data center as much of the cooling of the facility can be accomplished simply by pumping in the outside air, a significant cost savings since these centers need to be temperature controlled and being huge that's a power issue.
Having thought about it some more, I think I know what may be afoot. It might have been suggested to the contractor that they submit a sketchy proposal, even though a full and thorough one had been prepared. That way, ABP get to play the hero and save Ireland by 'rejecting' the 'unsuitable' plan, making suggestions that they know have been covered in the real proposal, then once the real one is submitted they can approve it and claim the credit.
There is no way the Irish employees of Apple down in Cork and the consultants wouldn't know ahead of time what was needed. Furthermore, in this country you absolutely do not buy a large tract of land in the 'hope' you will get approval for something. You get that sorted before you buy it. The land thing is a bit curious because 200+ acres is multiple average farms worth and I have never seen any mention of Apple purchasing the land.
There are reasons a company wants to build where they want. Ireland must not care if they build or not. Lots of people don't get down on there hands and knees to bow to Apple like you do.
Where I live the city turns down a lot of big names from opening here. It has not hurt this area at all.
http://www.irishhealth.com/article.html?id=20407
I think it would be unfair to penalise Ireland since they have stuck their neck out for Apple over the away tax thing.
Besides, the benefits of setting up shop in Ireland do go beyond the tax breaks: Apple has access to a well educated and relatively cheap work force.
But aren't Shamus, Paddy and Murphy already working for Apple?