{"id":177794,"date":"2016-08-19T08:12:15","date_gmt":"2016-08-19T14:12:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/?p=177794"},"modified":"2016-08-21T19:38:12","modified_gmt":"2016-08-22T01:38:12","slug":"an-open-letter-to-facebook-why-you-should-choose-new-mexico-for-your-data-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2016\/08\/an-open-letter-to-facebook-why-you-should-choose-new-mexico-for-your-data-center\/","title":{"rendered":"An open letter to Facebook: Why you should choose New Mexico for your data center"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Los

Heath Haussamen \/ NMPolitics.net<\/p>

A sunset near Los Lunas, where Facebook’s proposed data center would be built.<\/p><\/div>\n

COMMENTARY:\u00a0<\/strong>In the heart of New Mexico near the Village of Los Lunas, nestled below the Isleta Pueblo and surrounded by some of the state\u2019s most spectacular natural landscapes, a stretch of land sits at the ready to help boost New Mexico\u2019s economy.<\/p>\n

The proposed site for what\u2019s being described as\u00a0a $30 billion<\/a>, 50-job Facebook data center would be of mutual benefit to the state and the company.<\/p>\n

\"Gabe

Courtesy photo<\/p>

Gabe Vasquez<\/p><\/div>\n

To Facebook\u2019s business developers, I propose the following reasons why New Mexico is the right\u200a \u2014\u200a no, the perfect place, for your data center:<\/p>\n

Your New Mexico data center would help meet your 50 percent renewable energy target:<\/strong><\/p>\n

You\u00a0set a goal<\/a>\u00a0to power at least half of your infrastructure with clean energy by the end of 2018, a laudable and ambitious target that New Mexico will help you meet.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why New Mexico regulators have\u00a0unanimously approved<\/a>\u00a0a power plan for your data center that would employ new solar facilities to offset the bulk of your center\u2019s power demands.\u00a0With 275 days of sunshine<\/a>\u00a0and a utility company with an\u00a0extensive solar portfolio<\/a>, you\u2019re in a prime spot for clean energy development.<\/p>\n

The community support for your data center is overwhelming:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Unlike that of\u00a0our closest reported competitor<\/a>, there is strong support for a Facebook center in Los Lunas, and in New Mexico. We welcome you with open arms, generous incentives, and room for growth.<\/p>\n

The Los Lunas Village Council\u00a0unanimously approved<\/a>\u00a0a robust industrial revenue bond package to the tune of $5 billion to help you build the data center, and qualified in-state contractors and sub-contractors are in position to help build your campus the right way, for the right cost.<\/p>\n

And because business needs change and we anticipate that you\u2019ll love doing business in New Mexico so much, the proposed 850-acre\u00a0Huning Ranch Business Park<\/a>\u00a0offers plenty of room for expansion.<\/p>\n

Here, you won\u2019t be met with controversy or dirty looks\u200a \u2014 \u200ayou\u2019ll be greeted with fiscal incentives, a ready workforce, and most likely a hot air balloon-size basket full of green chile (you have to try it).<\/p>\n

We have the workforce and high-tech environment you need:<\/strong><\/p>\n

New Mexico is home to a historic and thriving high-tech research and development sector. It\u2019s home to three of the nation\u2019s premier national laboratories, a world-renowned\u00a0technology institution<\/a>\u00a0and two research universities, a supportive k-12 to employment\u00a0STEM career pipeline<\/a>, and a multitude of entrepreneurial government-research\u00a0private spin-offs<\/a>\u00a0facilitated by\u00a0in-state<\/a>\u00a0research and development agreements<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Together, this ideal blend of academic and small-business development resources in the tech sector would be in your backyard, as well the talent behind them. And hey, with a 47 percent\u00a0Hispanic<\/a>\u00a0and 10 percent\u00a0Native American population<\/a>, we\u2019ll help you meet\u00a0your diversity goals<\/a>, too! A win-win.<\/p>\n

We offer an unmatched qualify of life for your employees:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Infrastructure, incentives, and profit drive many business deals\u200a \u2014 \u200abut we know that\u00a0Facebook values its people<\/a>\u00a0just as much as its bottom line. New Mexico offers an unparalleled gateway to\u00a0outdoor recreation<\/a>\u00a0in one of the nation\u2019s most\u00a0diverse set of landscapes<\/a>, a\u00a0tremendous value<\/a>\u00a0for cost of living, and a\u00a0rich cultural tapestry<\/a>\u00a0that is interwoven in just about everything we do.<\/p>\n

And the food? Well, we hope Facebook has a good fitness program. But really, New Mexican food is known\u00a0for bold, spicy and delicious cuisine<\/a>, and where else can you trace your steps along a\u00a0breakfast burrito byway<\/a>\u00a0or the famed\u00a0green chile cheeseburger trail<\/a>? (The Owl is superior\u200a \u2014 \u200ayou\u2019ll get this soon.)<\/p>\n

Also, we hope you like microbrew beer, because\u00a0it\u2019s kind of a big deal<\/a>\u00a0for us.<\/p>\n

A legacy project that would help lift New Mexico families out of poverty:<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you invest in New Mexico, you\u2019d be making a moral and economically sound business decision. We believe that economic development carries with it a moral dimension that should always be considered. Yes, we\u2019re not California, Texas, or New York. Yes, we have some serious poverty and employment challenges. But realizing that the very fundamental human values that drive business should be to give employees the opportunity to provide for themselves and their family \u200a\u2014 \u200ato pursue education and increased quality of life \u2014\u00a0makes New Mexico the perfect choice for Facebook to invest in.<\/p>\n

Facebook, we\u2019re here, and we\u2019re ready. We\u2019ll start warming up the chile and the hot air balloons on your call. Thanks for considering New Mexico.<\/p>\n

Gabe Vasquez<\/a> is a graduate of New Mexico State University and a former board member and director of the Las Cruces Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He once thought about quitting Facebook but experienced frightening withdrawals. He can be reached at gabe_vasquezNM@gmail.com<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Facebook, we\u2019re here, and we\u2019re ready. We\u2019ll start warming up the chile and the hot air balloons on your call.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":170589,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1192,16],"tags":[118,217,250],"class_list":["post-177794","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary","category-guest-columns","tag-economy","tag-prc","tag-social-media"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/177794","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=177794"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/177794\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/170589"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=177794"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=177794"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=177794"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}