There was a lot of opposition to the arrival of the data center. Earlier this month, the cabinet put a stop to construction for the time being by not making the land available yet. Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, decided to suspend the plans for the time being. So now the plans are definitely shelved.
“When considering a location for a data center, our priority is a good match with the environment. In the end, we decided that building a data center in Zeewolde is not the right investment,” says the American group now. “We are finalizing our development plans and we are working closely with the municipality and province to conclude this project efficiently.”
Tom Zonneveld, leader of Leefbaar Zeewolde, says he is pleasantly surprised by the news. ,,We did not expect Meta to make the decision so quickly, but rather that they would put the ball in the hands of the Reich.” The party has been resisting the arrival of the data center for a long time.
fierce protest
At the end of last year, the Zeewolde city council approved the arrival of the data center. The municipality of Zeewolde wanted the data center, which was to be the largest in the Netherlands, at the time very happy to bring in† That would create additional jobs and tax revenue. However, the environmental movement protested strongly. The high power consumption was a problem for critics. Just like the question of whether the residual heat could be used properly.
There was also a lot of resistance among the residents of Zeewolde, who helped opponents to a majority in the municipal council during the municipal elections in March. The cabinet – owner of the land – also did not like the energy and water-guzzling mega data center. “The Netherlands is so small and the scarcity so great that we cannot afford to be careless with our space and energy,” said Minister Hugo de Jonge (Spatial Planning).
A spokesperson for the company would not say whether Meta is now looking for another location for a data center in the Netherlands. The company also does not answer questions about what the Meta will cost now that the plans in Zeewolde are not going ahead.
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