Data Center Critical Facilities 4

Equinix expands Colombia data center, lifts investment to US$73mn. Bnamericas Published: Saturday, August 22, 2026 Equinix brought online the second phase of BG2, its second data center in Colombia, doubling the site's cabinet capacity in Bogotá. The expansion required US$28mn in investment, adding to the US$45mn invested in the facility's first phase, which came online in 2022 with 550 racks. Activation of the second phase had been planned for the second quarter of 2026. With the new phase, the site now has 1,100 cabinets. Unlike other companies in the sector, Equinix does not typically disclose the power capacity of its projects and expansions. BNamericas, however, estimates that the facility, which has an enterprise (IBX) profile and is geared toward interconnection, has between 6MW and 7MW of capacity. Like the first site, BG2 is also located in Bogotá's free trade zone, an industrial hub with tax benefits. Equinix's first data center in Bogotá, BG1, was part of a portfolio of 29 global data centers the group acquired from Verizon in 2017 for US$3.6bn. According to Equinix, the investment also reinforces Bogotá's role as one of the region's main digital interconnection hubs. The Colombian capital accounts for a significant share of digital traffic in northern South America and the Andean region, and is home to strategic points such as NAP Colombia and several internet exchange points (IXPs). The country is also an important hub for submarine cables on the American Pacific coast. Currently, 11 cables reach the Colombian coast, mainly in Barranquilla and Cartagena. Through its Bogotá facilities, Equinix customers can access low-latency international routes to the continent's main traffic exchange hubs, including MI1 in Miami, also operated by Equinix and considered one of the largest IXPs in the Americas. "Organizations in Colombia and the Andean region are accelerating their digital transformation processes and increasingly require scalable, high-performance infrastructure. By doubling BG2's capacity, we are enabling our customers to grow with confidence while accessing the rich ecosystems available through Equinix's data centers," said Eduardo Carvalho, managing director of Equinix LATAM. Equinix's installed base in Latin America totals 20 data centers across seven metro areas: * São Paulo (6): SP1, SP2 and SP3 stabilized; SP4, in expansion; SP6, new and in expansion; SP5x xScale - all owned * Rio de Janeiro (3): RJ1 (leased), RJ2 (owned, subject to a long-term ground lease) and RJ3 (owned, expansion phase) * Santiago (4): ST1, ST3 and ST4, stabilized; ST2, in expansion - all owned * Mexico City (2): MX1, stabilized; MX2, in expansion - both owned * Monterrey (2): MO1, stabilized (leased); MO2, in expansion (owned) * Bogotá (2): BG1, stabilized; BG2, in expansion - both owned * Lima (1): LM1, stabilized - owned (The original version of this content was written in Portuguese) Subscribe to the leading business intelligence platform in Latin America with different tools for Providers, Contractors, Operators, Government, Legal, Financial and Insurance industries.

Equinix signs fourth solar PPA in Singapore. techcoffeehouse Equinix has signed its fourth renewable energy Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) in Singapore, partnering with independent electricity retailer Flo Energy Singapore to add solar capacity as it scales artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud infrastructure on the island. The deal with Equinix will draw at least 11.5MWp of solar capacity from commercial and industrial rooftop installations across Singapore, with an option to expand to 50MWp. It is the first Data Centre Solutions customer for Flo Energy Singapore, the country's largest independent electricity retailer. Fourth agreement pushes portfolio past 200MWp. The Flo agreement is Equinix's fourth renewable energy deal in Singapore over the past two years, and will lift its cumulative local renewable energy portfolio to 215MWp by 2028. Combined, Equinix's Singapore agreements are expected to generate about 250,000MWh of electricity a year, roughly equivalent to the annual charging needs of 60,000 electric vehicles in the country. * At least 11.5MWp of new solar capacity, with an option to expand to 50MWp * Local renewable energy portfolio to reach 215MWp by 2028 * Combined agreements to generate approximately 250,000MWh annually * Equinix holds more than 1,490MW of wind and solar PPAs across 11 countries "Singapore's position as a trusted global AI and digital hub will be underpinned by digital infrastructure that is resilient, sustainable and built for the future. Our fourth PPA is a significant milestone that reflects the power of collaboration across Singapore's public and private sectors," said Yee May Leong, Managing Director, Singapore, Equinix. Land-constrained market drives new procurement models. The agreement broadens Equinix's renewable energy sourcing strategy in Singapore by expanding participation from private-sector providers, complementing existing initiatives such as SolarNova 7 and JTC Jurong Island. "Singapore's data center sector is entering a new phase in which energy availability and sustainability considerations are becoming increasingly strategic. Equinix's latest agreement highlights how operators are diversifying their renewable energy sourcing models and collaborating with a wider ecosystem of partners. In a market shaped by land and grid constraints, multi-stakeholder approaches will play a critical role in supporting the continued growth and decarbonisation of digital infrastructure," said Soon Chen Kang, Senior Research Analyst, 451 Research, S&P Global Market Intelligence. "With Singapore's limited space, we need to think differently about how we make renewable energy more accessible for businesses with renewable aspirations. By bringing together generation from commercial and industrial rooftop solar projects across Singapore, this agreement demonstrates how we can help businesses support renewable energy at scale through our Data Centre Solutions, even in a land-constrained market," said Matthijs Guichelaar, Chief Executive Officer, Flo Energy Singapore. Beyond the PPA, Equinix has committed more than S$9 million to research alternative clean energy sources in Singapore, including geothermal energy and small modular reactors, and is developing a Co-Innovation Facility with the National University of Singapore focused on next-generation sustainability and energy technologies for data centres. Share with your friends: Loading...

City Hall roundup: Dallas eyes new data center rules, tackles old buildings and Fair Park funding. Running a city is partly about preparing for what comes next and partly about catching up with everything that has already happened. Officials at Dallas City Hall are doing a little of both right now, contending with new development pressures, old buildings, long-standing promises, and a budget that is leaving increasingly little room for surprises. Officials want to explore new data center rules in Dallas. Dallas could become the latest North Texas city to rethink how and where data centers are allowed. Council Member Chad West (District 1) filed a five-signature memo this week requesting that the city initiate a public hearing to discuss updating its development code to specifically address data centers. The hearing could consider amending existing regulations for "communications exchange facilities" and creating an entirely new land-use category for data centers. "There exist growing land use concerns over expanding this use throughout Dallas with very little tailored oversight," West said in the memo. "Currently, the closest land use in the development code that planning and development staff have to categorize these data centers is the local utility sub-use of communications exchange facility. Communications exchange facilities are allowed by right in many non residential and mixed-use zoning districts, and the regulations for this use fall short of a more modern local regulatory landscape." A hearing, which would be held within the next 30 days, comes as data centers become a land use flashpoint across Texas. Residents have challenged projects over electricity and water consumption, noise, and proximity to homes, while proponents point to new investment and property tax revenue. Dallas has so far seen less public controversy than several neigboring communities over data center construction, though developer Ray Washburne did threaten last year to sell the former Dallas Morning News headquarters downtown to a data center company after growing frustrated with the city over convention center redevelopment plans. The city ultimately purchased much of the property for $51 million. Other floated and real projects have garnered less attention. Equinix is developing an $836 million facility on Mockingbird Lane, and CBRE previously projected D-FW's data center market could double in size by the end of 2026. Crow Holdings is reportedly planning a 245-megawatt campus on roughly 40 acres along the Stemmons corridor, beginning with a 70-megawatt facility on vacant land. The larger redevelopment could eventually claim Dallas Market Hall, which has stopped booking future events as Crow Holdings evaluates the property's future. The rest of Dallas Market Center's wholesale complex, including the World Trade Center, is not part of the proposed redevelopment. "We need to better understand how this new land use fits into our city code," West said. "Many residents have concerns about data centers' energy and water use and compatibility in an urban environment. We need to make sure they are zoned and regulated appropriately rather than allowed by right." West's memo was signed by Council Members Zarin Gracey (District 3), Laura Cadena (District 6), Gay Donnell Willis (District 13), and Paul Ridley (District 14). City staff highlighted more than $14 million in recently completed facility improvements, even as the city continues wrestling with maintenance across its sprawling real estate portfolio. In a Friday memo, City Manager Kimberly Tolbert highlights work at five city-owned facilities, including Dallas Animal Services, the Dallas Museum of Art, Family Gateway shelter, and The Bridge shelter. Among the largest projects was an $8.2 million reconstruction of more than 21,000 square feet at the DMA after an August 2022 storm overwhelmed drainage at the Reves Gallery courtyard and damaged the Reves and C3 galleries. Reconstruction wrapped up June 30 after improvements to drainage and waterproofing. The city also spent $2.6 million replacing four aging rooftop HVAC units at Dallas Animal Services, where more than 500 HVAC-related service calls over five years had already generated more than $1 million in reactive repair costs. Replacement of the remaining five units is planned pending FY 2026-2027 funding. Another $3.4 million-plus went toward storm repairs and modernization at Family Gateway, while $700,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding addressed plumbing, appliances, fire suppression and laundry capacity at The Bridge. The city is also progressing with repairs at the Kleberg-Rylie Branch Library after a January freeze and flooding event damaged the facility. Facilities Management signed off on reconstruction of damaged walls and ceilings, which are expected to wrap up by late October. The improvements come as Dallas continues grappling with a much larger deferred maintenance problem. The city manages more than 500 properties totaling roughly 9.6 million square feet, with an average age of 47 years and a combined value of about $1.5 billion. Dallas has historically spent less than 1% of the portfolio's replacement value on maintenance, well below the 2-4% recommended under industry standards. Facilities officials estimated last year that another $15 million annually would be needed to bring spending up to that benchmark. Nowhere has the problem been more visible than Dallas City Hall, where years of underinvestment have contributed to problems ranging from water infiltration and aging elevators to outdated mechanical and electrical systems. Those problems have since become central to the debate over whether Dallas should pour potentially hundreds of millions of dollars into repairing 1500 Marilla St. or relocate municipal operations and redevelop the property. New TIF arrangement to support Community Park at Fair Park. Council members signed off on a tax increment financing agreement with the nonprofit Fair Park First on Wednesday, directing up to $3 million from the Deep Ellum TIF District to help close a funding gap for the long-promised 10.5-acre Community Park at Fair Park. Fair Park First has so far raised about $33.1 million through federal, state, and philanthropic sources, according to the city. The project is estimated to cost $40.6 million. Remaining funds are expected to be raised privately. "Community Park at Fair Park is more than a capital project - it's a commitment that delivers on a promise to the families and neighborhoods that have waited far too long for this meaningful investment," said Council Member Adam Bazaldua (District 7). "This park will create new opportunities, strengthen community pride, and build a healthier future for South Dallas." The arrangement comes after a turbulent few years for Fair Park First. The nonprofit previously managed the entire Fair Park campus before the city took day-to-day operations back in-house amid controversy over the use of restricted donor funds by subcontractor Oak View Group. Fair Park First has since assumed a narrower role focused on fundraising for and delivering the Community Park. Community Park itself has been promised to surrounding South Dallas neighborhoods for years. Frustration over repeated delays became so pronounced that the city council stripped the Dallas Park & Recreation Board of authority over the project. A subsequent agreement approved in February put Fair Park First in charge of designing, funding, and constructing it. Plans call for converting more than 10 acres of surface parking into green space with playgrounds, walking trails, shaded gathering areas, a fitness hub, market grove, community pavilion, and stage. The concept has evolved considerably since Fair Park First unveiled earlier plans in 2023. Construction is now anticipated to begin later this year, with completion targeted for December 2028. City staff health plan targeted in proposed budget. Dallas employees and retirees will have fewer health insurance options next year if City Manager Kimberly Tolbert's proposed budget gets adopted. "Employer-sponsored health insurance premiums have increased sharply nationwide," said Tolbert. "Without adjustments, an increasing share of City of Dallas resources would be directed to health care costs rather than essential city services, employee compensation, and staffing." Under Tolbert's proposed FY 2026-2027 budget, Dallas would discontinue its current PPO health plan beginning in January 2027 while retaining two Blue Cross Blue Shield options: an HSA plan and a PCP plan. Tolbert said many employees already participate in the two plans that will remain. Officials also estimate about 90% of providers in the existing PPO network will still be available through those plans. Medical costs have emerged as a persistent strain on the city budget. Back in April, the city projected its employee health plan fund would exceed this year's budget by $13.8 million because of higher medical and pharmacy claims. Staff said 116 employees had generated medical claims exceeding $100,000, while pharmacy expenses were being pushed higher by specialty medications and GLP-1 drugs. Those costs, coupled with disappointing sales tax revenues and higher public safety spending, contributed to a roughly $30 million current-year budget shortfall that prompted Tolbert to impose mandatory furloughs on many non-uniform employees and selective hiring freezes this summer. Before open enrollment, Dallas plans to hold virtual and in-person sessions to help PPO participants navigate the change. Tolbert said the city will continue evaluating its health benefits over the coming year with an eye toward balancing employee needs against the program's long-term financial sustainability. Visit SecondShelters.com