Yahoo may build data center in WNY

NEW YORK, N.Y. (WIVB) - The governor calls it just the tip of the iceberg - a new Yahoo data center in western New York.

Tuesday morning, the New York Power Authority Board voted unanimously to offer Yahoo just what it had been asking for - 15 megawatts of low cost electricity if they agree to locate a new data center in western New York.

It would bring about 125 jobs, paying an average of $65,000 dollars a year.

New York Governor David Paterson said, "We will go on now to choose a site among available sites in Genesee and Niagara Counties."

News 4 has been told there are three possible sites, one near the Pembroke exit of the New York State Thruway in Genesee County; the other is in the Lockport Industrial Park, just outside the City of Lockport.

Lockport Mayor Michael Tucker said, "That would be a great shot to the community, city, town or county, a nice shot in the arm to our economy in Niagara County."

The third site in the running is some farmland on Comstock Road in Cambria.

It is all farmland and to make it happen, the town will have to extend the water line from a half mile down the road, and a sewer line from a quarter mile down this road, but town officals say it's well worth it.

Cambria Supervisor Wright Ellis said, "Absolutely, if we're able to do that and they're coming in, and we do that to support it, that certainly would make it a very cost effective move."

It's not a done deal yet, but State Senator George Maziarz is thrilled to see the Power Authority giving something back to western New York.

Senator Maziarz said, "I hope that they've turned a corner. I hope this is the dawning of a new day for the Power Authority."

We may know in a week or two which site Yahoo wants to build on. Construction could begin this fall and the center could be up and running in a year and a half.