Facebook establishing data center in Henrico County

California-based networking giant Facebook announced Thursday it is investing $750 million to establish a data center in the White Oak Technology Park in Henrico County. The project is expected to create 100 full-time jobs.

The 970,000-square-foot facility will be fully powered by renewable energy. Due to a new renewable energy tariff designed by Richmond-based Dominion Energy Virginia and Facebook, hundreds of millions of additional dollars will be invested in the construction of multiple solar facilities in the commonwealth to service the center.

The project also is expected to bring thousands of construction jobs.

The deal was made possible through a new renewable energy tariff called Schedule RF, which allows large energy users, such as Facebook, to meet their needs through the addition of renewable energy sources, which must be built in Virginia.

The Henrico County Board of Supervisors approved in April a reduced tax rate for data centers’ equipment from $3.50 per $100 of assessed value to 40 cents per $100.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Henrico County, the Henrico County Economic Development Authority, and the General Assembly’s Major Employment and Investment (MEI) Project Approval Commission to secure the project.