Sphere 3D Plans 50-MW Data Center in Hopkinsville, Kentucky
Sphere 3D's subsidiary, North Campbell LandCo LLC, is planning to build a 50-megawatt data center in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. The proposed facility would fall within the 'large-scale' category under the city's draft zoning rules, which divide facilities by electricity demand and physical footprint.
The existing 15-megawatt bitcoin mining operation at the Holland Substation would be converted to other computing uses, and a new electrical substation would be built at an estimated cost of $8 million to $10 million. The company would pay for this new substation, leaving about 15 megawatts of additional capacity for other utility customers.
City officials are considering zoning rules on large computing facilities, and residents have expressed concerns about noise, water consumption, backup generators, and environmental effects. North Campbell's lawyer stated that the proposed facility would use closed-loop cooling, which recirculates water.