Contact:
David Vossbrink, (408) 277-3515 
Communications Director, Mayor’s Office

San Jose, CA ---- Citing the need for greater regional energy self-sufficiency, San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales and Councilmember Chuck Reed have recommended that the City Council approve the proposed US Dataport Internet "server farm" in North San Jose on the condition that the project ultimately provides its own clean power supplies and dedicates land for open space and habitat preservation.

The US Dataport project would host a large array of Internet servers to meet the needs of Silicon Valley businesses for secure and stable computer systems to support their web operations. The proposed project also could require up to 180 megawatts of power at full buildout over the next five years. The project will be considered by the San Jose City Council Tuesday evening (April 3 at 7:00 p.m.).

"This is an opportunity to help the people, environment and businesses of our region by ensuring that a major new energy user can develop its own energy supplies to meet its needs," said Mayor Gonzales. "By requiring US Dataport to develop a practical energy solution before we issue permits, we can improve the overall self-sufficiency of our industrial base."

Among the conditions recommended by Gonzales and Reed include:

• Before the city will issue permits needed by the project to develop planned future phases that would draw power from the electric grid, US Dataport must submit an energy plan that eliminates the use of diesel backup generators and develops power generation systems that are environmentally appropriate and practical for self-sufficiency.

• US Dataport will provide more than 52 acres of open space and burrowing owl habitat, which represents more than 30 percent of the total project site

• The project will use recycled water from the San Jose water pollution control plant for cooling.

"This is a major project in terms of its energy use and its importance to Silicon Valley’s long-term economy," said Chuck Reed, who represents North San Jose on the City Council. "Our aim was to achieve a serious and balanced solution for US Dataport to ensure that it will meet our community’s expectations for protecting both our environment and our prosperity."

The city expects the project will enhance the ability of Silicon Valley to remain competitive as a center for a broad range of technology industries. It is also expected to generate approximately $7 million a year in General Fund revenues that will help the city provide basic municipal services such as public safety, parks and libraries.

"We believe the project can strengthen our economic foundation for a technology-based economy, and at the same time it can become a model for practical energy solutions that will increase the reliability our region’s overall energy system," said Grant Sedgwick, President and CEO of US Dataport. "We look forward to working with the City of San Jose to achieve this goal."

Sedgwick also noted that US Dataport was committed to investing $2 million for riparian and water quality improvements for Coyote Creek and for community technology programs.