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Amazon Web Services (AWS) is making a big splash in Mississippi. The tech giant plans to invest $10 billion over the next 10 years to build data centers in Madison County. This project is the biggest single investment ever made in the state.
The deal didn’t happen by chance. It took teamwork and hard work from many people. Roger Wehner from AWS and Ed Gardner from Entergy Mississippi played key roles. They’ve worked together on other projects for 20 years.
Their long history and shared focus on finding solutions helped bring this massive project to life.
Checking the Details
When big projects come to town, lots of people work behind the scenes. The Amazon Web Services (AWS) project in Mississippi was no different.
Years before it was public, a small group knew about it. The state’s lieutenant governor (now governor) was in on it early. So was the boss of Entergy Mississippi.
Entergy got busy right away. They looked for spots that fit what AWS wanted. These had to be near big power lines. They also made sure the land was ready to go.
The power company did its homework. They learned all about data centers. They teamed up with local experts to make their best site shine.
As time went on, the project got bigger. At first, they talked about spending $1 billion. That was huge! But it didn’t stop there.
Years later, the number grew. It wasn’t just billions – it was “multiple billions.” That’s a lot of zeros!
Here’s a simple breakdown of what Entergy did:
- Picked sites near big power lines
- Made sure land was ready to use
- Studied data centers
- Worked with local experts
- Made maps and plans
This work paid off. It helped Mississippi stand out when AWS was ready to choose a spot. Being ready and working together made a big difference.
Getting a Competitive Edge
Mississippi found a smart way to attract big companies. Entergy Mississippi came up with a plan called EDGE in 2021. This plan aimed to add lots of green energy to the state’s power mix. The goal was to have 1,000 megawatts of renewable power by 2027.
Many businesses these days want clean energy when they pick a place to set up shop. Mississippi wanted to be ready for them.
Ed Gardner from Entergy pitched this idea to Amazon. He knew it could make the state more appealing.
Amazon liked what they heard. The company had already reached its goal of using 100% renewable energy much earlier than expected. They were happy to see Mississippi moving in the same direction.
Here’s a quick look at EDGE’s goals:
- 500 megawatts of renewable power by 2025
- Another 500 megawatts by 2027
This green energy push could be a big reason why Amazon chose Mississippi for its new project.
Tackling Roadblocks
Getting a big project off the ground isn’t always smooth sailing.
Entergy Mississippi faced some tough challenges when they had to set up 650 MW of renewable energy in just three years. This was a tall order, as it usually takes five to six years to go through all the red tape.
But the team didn’t give up. They put their heads together and found creative solutions.
At an AWS Summit in Washington, DC, Fisackerly proudly shared how they made it happen against the odds.
Equipment shortages added another wrinkle to the plan. Transformers, which are key pieces of the puzzle, typically have long waiting times.
The team had to think outside the box to get what they needed faster than usual.
Matching the power supply to the demand was another tricky bit. Utilities don’t usually move this quickly, but Entergy Mississippi stepped up to the plate.
They broke away from their normal routines to make things work for AWS.
AWS’s Wehner was impressed by how Entergy Mississippi tackled these issues:
- They put the customer first
- They got creative with problem-solving
- They sped up their usual processes
- They even started using some of Amazon’s own methods
The State of Mississippi, Madison County, and Ridgeland also pitched in to help.
They set high standards for:
- Economic growth plans
- Getting sites ready
- Being business-friendly
- Coming up with clever ideas
Wehner expressed how happy AWS was with the warm welcome and the teamwork they’ve built.
It shows that when everyone pulls together, even the toughest challenges can be overcome.