One year and three months ago, we reported that Yahoo was interested in building a data center in Lockport, New York, and that the company had set a target date of September 2010 for its completion.  Now, right on schedule, the state-of-the-art facility’s being opened.

Yahoo CEO Carol Bartz, New York Governor David Paterson, and Senator Charles Schumer (along with a few other politicians) will all participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony today.  Bartz stated, "We’re thrilled to unveil our world-class data center in Lockport and take an active role in the community."

As for some other details, the data center covers 155,000 square feet, and the site will also support a Yahoo Operations Center and a Global Service Staff.  This should allow for the creation of as many as 125 fulltime jobs.

Then, to get into the data center’s efficiency, it’s supposed to use at least 40 percent less electricity and 95 percent less water than a typical data center.  And that translates to enough energy to power 9,000 New York households for a year, plus a lifetime of drinking water for 200,000 people.

The Department of Energy awarded the facility a $9.9 million sustainability grant as a result.

Governor Paterson said, "I am excited to see that Yahoo! is well underway with their investment in New York State and look forward to seeing the many opportunities this will bring to Niagara County and the broader Western New York community."