Amazon Web Services plans to invest $35bn in data centers across Virginia

Amazon Web Services (AWS), an Amazon.com company, is planning to invest $35 billion by 2040 to set up data center campuses across Virginia according to the state’s Governor Glenn Youngkin.

The Governor further said that many vicinities in the Commonwealth of Virginia are under consideration and will be decided at a later stage.

The proposed investment is expected to provide no less than 1,000 new jobs across the American state.

Governor Glenn Youngkin said: “AWS has a significant presence in Virginia, and we are excited that AWS has chosen to continue their growth and expand their footprint across the Commonwealth.

“Virginia will continue to encourage the development of this new generation of data center campuses across multiple regions of the Commonwealth.

“These areas offer robust utility infrastructure, lower costs, great livability, and highly educated workforces and will benefit from the associated economic development and increased tax base, assisting the schools and providing services to the community.”

Amazon Web Services plans to invest $35bn in data centers across Virginia. Photo courtesy of Ajay Suresh from New York, NY, USA/Wiki

With planned new campuses, Amazon anticipates to combine expandable capacity to position AWS for continued growth in the Commonwealth.

Roger Wehner — AWS Economic Development Director said: “Since 2006, AWS has invested more than $35 billion in Virginia, boosting the Commonwealth’s total Gross Domestic Product by nearly $7 billion and supporting thousands of jobs annually.

“Building on these successful beginnings, we plan to invest an additional $35 billion in the Commonwealth of Virginia by 2040 and create 1,000 jobs.”

Awaiting approval from the Virginia General Assembly, the Commonwealth is developing a new Mega Data Center Incentive Program.

Amazon Web Services could receive incentives from the new Mega Data Center Incentive Program and a grant of up to $140 million for workforce development, site and infrastructure improvements, and other project-related costs.

Amazon, which is one of the largest private-sector employers in the Commonwealth of Virginia, established its first AWS data centers and operations facilities in 2006 and announced its second headquarters (HQ2) in Arlington County in 2018.