But the Northwest's energy resources aren't the reason they're coming here, local utility officials say. Fiber-optic networks are crucial to the operation of Internet server farms because they have the broadband capacity to handle large amounts of data. The amount of fiber-optic cable operated by each entity varies widely. Apparently, those contracts didn't materialize, he said. Other drawing cards this region has to offer include the concentration of high-tech companies already here and the livability of the Greater Seattle area, which makes it easier for companies to attract skilled technology workers.
Power outages can cost Internet companies a bundle.
The more than two dozen proposed Internet server farms and their appetite for electrical power would pose the biggest concern to local utility regulators if they all were to come on line immediately. That makes all the difference in the world. In the worst case, it could be a problem. That new generation capacity would more than offset the power demands of the server farms. The problem, according to Klump, is that it would take an estimated two years for the new generators to be built, whereas server farms can be set up fairly quickly.