Data Center Paired with Housing Development
Meets City's Future Needs with Clean Energy Solution
OAKLAND,
Calif., Nov. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, a
partnership led by real estate developer Westbank and Pacific
Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced a proposal for an
innovative net zero community. Located in downtown San Jose, the project will develop three new
data centers and upwards of 4,000 residential units. The partners
shared the news alongside San Jose
Mayor Matt Mahan at PG&E's 2024
Innovation Summit.
The proposal would transform downtown San Jose by responding to demand for both
artificial intelligence (AI)-driven data centers and housing. The
clean energy solution also supports San
Jose's commitment to a net zero future.
"San Jose is no stranger to
innovation that changes the world," said Mayor Matt Mahan. "We are a laboratory for the future
— and in our city, that future is net zero. This project proposed
by Westbank and PG&E has the potential to change the way that
our cities are built, developed and powered for the better, and
we're going to do everything we can at City Hall to support its
success."
PG&E will power the area, delivering approximately 200
megawatts of energy for the three data centers. A district energy
system will connect the data centers and surrounding community. The
system allows excess heat from the data centers to be harnessed and
repurposed to provide heating and hot water to neighboring
buildings.
Using the excess heat, rather than letting it go to waste,
reduces the investment needed to build out the electric, low-carbon
system. Additional benefits include:
- More efficient use of the electricity powering the data
centers.
- Lower electricity costs for tenants connected to the district
energy system.
- Helping to reduce the carbon footprints of the buildings
connected to the district energy system.
- Supporting more cost effective and sustainable future
development in downtown San
Jose.
"This initiative is about addressing the need for housing and AI
infrastructure while at the same time creating more inspiring
communities that respond meaningfully to climate change. In
PG&E we have found a partner who shares our vision and
commitment. We're looking forward to realizing this initiative
together," said Westbank CEO Ian
Gillespie.
"Our proposed net zero community with Westbank and the city of
San Jose represents the future for
our hometowns. It's also an example of how strong partnerships help
us enable California's prosperity.
California is leading the energy
transition for our nation and the people of PG&E are proud to
power that growth," said PG&E Corporation CEO Patti Poppe.
Plug and Play, a global innovation platform, plans to be the
first tenant in the proposed community with their AI Center of
Excellence. PG&E is a founding partner of this center, which
will include an accelerator, exhibition halls and a learning center
for students and small business owners.
Media can access videos, still photos and news releases
here: 2024 PG&E Innovation Summit - Multimedia Access
Link.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a
subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG), is a combined
natural gas and electric utility serving more than sixteen million
people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information,
visit pge.com and pge.com/news
About Westbank
Westbank is a practice dedicated to the
creation of inspiring environments, with a body of work that
includes residential, hotels, retail, workspace, district energy,
affordable housing, exhibitions and public art. The net zero
community in San Jose is being
developed in partnership by Westbank, Peterson and
OPTrust.
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SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company