Apple is planning to build a single-story,
263,770-square-foot data center near the town of Athenry in County Galway in Ireland that is expected to be completed in 2017, but some residents of nearby communities have
expressed concerns with the company's Environmental Impact Statement, saying that proposed generators that will help make the plant run entirely on renewable resources, as well as the development itself, may cause problems.
While data centers create little to no pollution directly, they do use enormous amounts of power. While environmental groups like An Taisce have expressed approval at Apple's plan to make the data center run on renewable power, it would like to see details on how it will be accomplished, and address other concerns such as night-lighting. A similar proposal is being considered for a similar data center in Denmark.
Computer image of similar Denmark facility
Other residents are concerned that the noise and vibrations from the generators may create "quality of life" issues for nearby residents and livestock in nearby Lisheenkyle, with objectors saying that the facility is "remote from existing services and facilities and identified centers of population," contradicting the county's claims.
In addition to the main data center, Apple plans to build smaller "logistical, administration, maintenance, and security facilities" near the center, and says the 18 generators used by the data center will be separated by an eight-foot-tall perimeter fence, along with additional tree planting and other property improvements. The company also plans to contribute an outdoor classroom for the nearby Lisheenkyle National School.
Other groups have expressed concerns about increased traffic in the rural area, as the facility will create about 300 additional jobs during the construction phase, and a smaller number of permanent jobs once it goes online. One group would like to see carbon-neutral transportation for workers, while another Athenry-based group wants Apple to pay for a cycling/walking "greenway" from the facility to nearby communities to reduce the need for cars.
The groups are not against the construction of the data center, but have called Apple's existing EIS "inadequate" until more environmental factors are addressed. Apple estimates that the budget for the Ireland project is close to $1 billion US, with another $900 million planned for the Denmark facility.
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