Wind energy’s role in new data centers

Regarding “Big Data Boom in WDM,” April 19: It’s important that Iowans understand it’s no accident that Iowa has been selected by Google in Council Bluffs, Facebook in Altoona and Microsoft in West Des Moines. Each of these data centers requires massive amounts of energy and each is committed to using low -ost and sustainable sources.

Iowa leads the nation with 27 percent of our electricity generated from wind and will grow substantially when the latest project is completed adding 400 more wind turbines. That leadership in sustainable energy pushes Iowa to the top of the list when these companies demand green energy sources for their future locations.

Iowa can be proud of our leadership in wind electricity production, proving that wind and other green sustainable sources are essential to our future business growth.

— Rick Smith, Urbandale