Apple To Invest $2B Building Green Data Centers In Ireland and Denmark

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Apple To Invest $2B Building Green Data Centers In Ireland and Denmark

Posted by samzenpus on Monday February 23, 2015 @02:32AM from the going-green dept.

stephendavion writes Amid deeper investigations into how Apple may be using its operations in Ireland as a means for tax avoidance on tens of billions of dollars in profit, the iPhone maker has announced that it will spend nearly $2 billion (€1.7 billion) to develop two new 100% renewable energy data centers in Europe. The centers — which will use wind power and other green fuel sources — will be located in Athenry, Ireland, and Viborg, Denmark. Apple said that they will power services such as apps in the App Store, Siri and iMessage. Both locations will run on 100 percent renewable energy and Apple said they will have the 'lowest environmental impact' of its data centers thus far. It will also be following in the footsteps of companies like Facebook, which has also built sustainable data center operations out in Europe.

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Why not in the US? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-02-23 02:39 · Score: -1

Look -- I'm here in Europe, so from a selfish standpoint that's fine and dandy. But why the hell not in the US? Somehow I smell shenanigan.
1. Re:Why not in the US? by Zembar · 2015-02-23 02:43 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Because they already have major data centers in the US and want more of them closer to their customers in Europe?
2. Re:Why not in the US? by Sarten-X · 2015-02-23 02:52 · Score: 2
  
  In proper Slashdot form, I'm just speculating with no real information on the matter, but I think it something to do with a quantity of eggs being put in a particular number of baskets.
  
  --
  You do not have a moral or legal right to do absolutely anything you want.
3. Re:Why not in the US? by TWX · 2015-02-23 02:53 · Score: -1, Troll
  
  Because they already screwed GT Technologies out of their Mesa, AZ facility to now repurpose it into a datacenter. They don't have to spend very much money to do this, so it doesn't make more than local news.
  
  --
  Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
4. Re:Why not in the US? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-02-23 02:53 · Score: -1
  
  Because they already have major data centers in the US and want more of them closer to their customers in Europe?
  They probably already have datacenters there. This is simple greenwashing. They will clearcut a few thousand acres of forest and tilt up solar/wind. Then the power companies that they contracted with will be screwed because they built up to handle the Apple data centers.
  They did the same thing here in my state. Contracted out for years for power. The power company builds brand new hydro power plants just for them. "OH sorry we are building our own now". So my power bill goes up to cover the cost that Apple said they would.
5. Re:Why not in the US? by Dcnjoe60 · 2015-02-23 02:59 · Score: -1, Troll
  
  Look -- I'm here in Europe, so from a selfish standpoint that's fine and dandy. But why the hell not in the US? Somehow I smell shenanigan.
  Because it's not really about building sustainable plants, but avoiding US taxes. If you're going to build a new plant, it's not significantly more expensive than a regular one. It's not about saving the planet, it's about seeking tax shelters.
6. Re:Why not in the US? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-02-23 03:11 · Score: 0
  
  Way to be completely spin the story to be ant-Apple. If Apple were truly as horrible as the iHaters say, why do they have to lie about stories? Just talk about the real bad things Apple does? There must be so numerous, right? Why stoop to untruths and lies?
7. Re:Why not in the US? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-02-23 03:13 · Score: 1
  
  it would be monumentally stupid to put a data center that serves European costumers at the other end of a transatlantic cable
8. Re:Why not in the US? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-02-23 03:13 · Score: 0
  
  It might be due a tax advantage. I wouldn't be surprised if a European country would give Apple a tax break on products if they placed a datacenter on their soil, especially Apple specifically since it is the least hated of US companies [1].
  The ironic thing is a data center most likely bring few to no jobs once initial configuration is done. A few people to watch power and HVAC, 2-3 operator-level techs to replace drives and blades, security staff, and maybe a few facilities people. All the rest can be handled via remote. If the parent A/C is right, this provides little to the country, other than perhaps the ability to coerce Apple into letting the country spy on whomever has stuff stored there.
  [1]: It seems like the EU, whenever they need a PR boost, decides to re-fine Google or Motorola over something they already settled, or just drag the company into court again for another misdeed... which domestic companies are able to do all the time. However, Apple doesn't seem to be on the EU's kangaroo court list.
9. Re:Why not in the US? by guruevi · 2015-02-23 03:14 · Score: 1
  
  Why would the price go up? They can simply wind down some coal or gas powered plants and pass the savings on to the customers. I smell shenanigans on the side of your power company, your prices would've gone up regardless. In one version it would be 'because Apple is using more power than they told us' in the other, it would be 'because Apple isn't using all the power they told us'.
  
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10. Re:Why not in the US? by eoinmadden · 2015-02-23 03:18 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  The area of forestry they are felling in Ireland is 300 acres, not thousands of acres. I know because I walk my dogs there sometimes.
11. Re:Why not in the US? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-02-23 03:18 · Score: 0
  
  Because it's not really about building sustainable plants, but avoiding US taxes.
  Yeah, because Denmark is known to be have very low taxes.
12. Re:Why not in the US? by eoinmadden · 2015-02-23 03:19 · Score: 2
  
  And because AFAIK data held on EU customers must be held on servers within the EU, for data protection reasons.
13. Re:Why not in the US? by eoinmadden · 2015-02-23 03:20 · Score: 2
  
  Exactly. Slashdotters are forgetting that Apple has customers in the EU.
14. Re:Why not in the US? by HornWumpus · 2015-02-23 03:30 · Score: 1
  
  Data centers are a cost. Revenue is recognized elsewhere.
  
  --
  John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
15. Re:Why not in the US? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-02-23 03:36 · Score: 0
  
  Most likely because physical proximity to the people loading data is important, and reduces latency. Apple already have several very large data centers in the US.
16. Re: Why not in the US? by bill_mcgonigle · 2015-02-23 03:41 · Score: 1, Insightful
  
  The US has the highest effective corporate tax rate, so yes, Denmark has to be lower.
  The main difference is that the high rates exist here mainly to keep small businesses from becoming competitive with the multinationals (which buy off the politicians with campaign money in exchange for favorable treatment).
  And, yes, Apple is trying to reduce its US footprint wherever it doesn't really matter. The only surprise is that they haven't bought Cuba (yet).
  
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17. Re:Why not in the US? by Nidi62 · 2015-02-23 03:46 · Score: 1
  
  Look -- I'm here in Europe, so from a selfish standpoint that's fine and dandy. But why the hell not in the US? Somehow I smell shenanigan.
  So they can "sell" the usage of these data centers to other divisions of Apple, thereby funneling profits to Ireland resulting in reduced taxes.
  
  --
  The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
18. Re:Why not in the US? by Anubis+IV · 2015-02-23 03:57 · Score: 1
  
  But why the hell not in the US? Somehow I smell shenanigan.
  Umm...they're doing both. They announced a 2900-acre US-based solar farm almost two weeks ago. This announcement is following on the heels of that one and looks to be a bit larger in scale (possibly because they don't already have smaller facilities in Europe like they've had for awhile in the US?). There's no reason why they have to choose either the US or Europe when they have the resources to do both.
19. Re:Why not in the US? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-02-23 04:01 · Score: 0
  
  So you pay tax on costs in USA? Or how exactly is Apple then avoiding US taxes by placing their losses outside USA?
20. Re: Why not in the US? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-02-23 04:05 · Score: 0
  
  Hurr, durr, the Repulicans tell me that USA has the highest taxes in the world, so clearly the communist state of Denmark must have lower taxes
  OK...
21. Re:Why not in the US? by drinkypoo · 2015-02-23 04:20 · Score: -1, Flamebait
  
  It doesn't matter if it's 3 acres or 300,000 acres, it's wrong because it's unnecessary and they're going there solely for the purpose of dodging taxes. And it's only possible because of Irish law, which is only set because they're willing to get some jobs at the expense of any other nation's loss of tax revenue. Meanwhile there's whole office parks empty in Spain, but they won't move there because they'd have to pay taxes.
  What's more, if you completely remove morality from the equation, it's a win-win for Ireland because if any other nation's economic situation worsens, every other nation's economic situation improves, because speculation.
  TL;DR: fuck Apple, fuck Ireland, and fuck speculators
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
22. Re:Why not in the US? by drinkypoo · 2015-02-23 04:22 · Score: 1
  
  Umm...they're doing both. They announced a 2900-acre US-based solar farm almost two weeks ago.
  Yes, they're siting it on a former dry farm. So they're destroying sustainable agriculture for the benefit of their sustainable power supply. But they won't be reducing the demand for agriculture, so someone else will spin up a farm somewhere else, probably using water. Pretty shitty site. Meanwhile there's BLM land up here not that far north of the site which is only currently being used for clear-cutting.
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
23. Re: Why not in the US? by LetterRip · 2015-02-23 04:38 · Score: 2
  
  You've confused statutory with effective rate.
  The US has one of the lowest effective rates (how much the corporation actually pays after deductions, etc.), but one of the highest statutory rates (the worst theoretical possible rate that a corporation would pay if it had zero deductions and enormous profits).
24. Re:Why not in the US? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-02-23 04:39 · Score: 0
  
  If the company that built the hydro projects made any money they would be able to invest in other projects. Also, in a country the size of Ireland you can still make money putting energy into the grid. Maybe in your state they messed up and didn't think through what would actually happen when the data center was ready. That doesn't mean the Irish will make the same fuck up.
25. Re:Why not in the US? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-02-23 04:44 · Score: 0
  
  I'm sure jobless people in Ireland will be happy to lose a few trees if they can put some food on the table of their families. Obviously trees can be planted elsewhere. All this stuff about tax avoidance is BS. Ireland is being more competive and therefore deserve the business. If the US wants to keep jobs in the US then they also need to be more competitive
26. Re:Why not in the US? by oldmac31310 · 2015-02-23 04:45 · Score: 1
  
  Where will they find a few thousand acres of forest in Athenry?
  
  --
  http://www.acetonestudio.com
27. Re:Why not in the US? by drinkypoo · 2015-02-23 04:46 · Score: 1
  
  I'm sure jobless people in Ireland will be happy to lose a few trees if they can put some food on the table of their families.
  
  Right. At the expense of others. The whole system is rotten, it's not just Apple.
  
  If the US wants to keep jobs in the US then they also need to be more competitive
  It's hard to be more competitive than someone willing to sell out their country's future and everyone else's too. I thought we the USA had already proven that?
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
28. Re:Why not in the US? by oldmac31310 · 2015-02-23 04:47 · Score: 1
  
  Probably just fast growing conifers anyway. It's not like there is much deciduous forest left in Ireland.
  
  --
  http://www.acetonestudio.com
29. Re:Why not in the US? by oldmac31310 · 2015-02-23 04:52 · Score: 1
  
  Surely it would be more circumspect to place said eggs in a custom made styrofoam container rather than the 'basket' you suggest. This basket is surely unsuited to the task and will most likely result in breakage of its contents. Am I missing the point?
  
  --
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30. Re:Why not in the US? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-02-23 05:31 · Score: 0
  
  They probably already have datacenters there. This is simple greenwashing. They will clearcut a few thousand acres of forest and tilt up solar/wind. Then the power companies that they contracted with will be screwed because they built up to handle the Apple data centers.
  Right... There's no possible way that they might need to increase their capacity in Europe, is there?
31. Re:Why not in the US? by Anubis+IV · 2015-02-23 06:35 · Score: 2
  
  Given that the market is already oversaturated with supply, suggesting that the loss of a low-yield source will necessarily create a vacuum that must be filled is a rather disingenuous argument.
  Specifically, dry farming is an inherently low-yield form of agriculture (and one which has a history of leading to dust storms and erosion in the areas where it's practiced, I'll add, since it eliminates ground cover), and the US already has a massive surplus of food supply each year (which is why we waste so much of it on useless stuff like corn for ethanol). Losing a single farm will almost certainly not have any sort of significant impact on the food supply, nor will someone set up a new, irrigation-based farm to deal with the loss of supply caused by this one's closure. Demand already outstrips supply. There will be no vacuum to fill.
  On the other hand, demand routinely outstrips supply when it comes to power in California, and the excess power from this solar farm will supply enough for 60,000 homes. I'm not a huge proponent of clean power, but even I have to admit that keeping that many homes from having to use coal or similar sources would be beneficial.
32. Re:Why not in the US? by lalleglad · 2015-02-23 06:58 · Score: 2
  
  You are wrong on all accounts, but that is perhaps the reason you are posting anonymously?
  I don't know about Ireland, but as I am from Denmark, I know about the reason here.
  1.
  Trust me, they don't get a tax break here, because no one does. Everything in Denmark revolves around 'paying taxes', even when a previous liberal government said they would halt the taxes, they didn't.
  The reason, or one of the reasons, they chose Denmark was that we are a power-wise green country, and we can get a lot of power from surrounding countries if necessary. Last year 39% of electricity in Denmark came from windmills, and Sweden and Norway has a lot of waterpower that may be used on a not so windy day.
  As a backup, German power is available, and they also have windmills.
  2.
  The size of the data center will be 160,000m and they talk about a couple of hundred workers there.
  That may not sound like much, but the effects on the local community could be large, as that may require people to stay there with families, requiring schools, public bus and train transportation, local shops, perhaps an upgraded local airport.
  It may attract other domestic and foreign companies to put up a site in the neighborhood, because if Apple can do it, why not someone else?
  So, it could eventually become thousands of people that are affected in a positive way by such a center.
  3.
  The EU is always treating all companies the same, regardless of where they come from. And we do that because EU is still a rather loose organization of very distinct and independent countries.
  You know, Fiat and Chrysler would be treated equal, oh sorry, Fiat bought Chrysler, so of course ;-)
  Please let me know what EU based company has been able to do, that a US company was penalized for?
33. Re:Why not in the US? by nobuddy · 2015-02-23 07:44 · Score: 1
  
  Tax dodge. Taking advantage of treaties between Ireland, Denmark, and the EU to avoid paying taxes on their profits.
  http://www.investopedia.com/te...
34. Re:Why not in the US? by nobuddy · 2015-02-23 07:46 · Score: 1
  
  You should read up on the irish-dutch sandwitch tax dodge. That is exactly what they are doing.
  http://www.investopedia.com/te...
35. Re:Why not in the US? by nobuddy · 2015-02-23 07:47 · Score: 1
  
  http://www.investopedia.com/te...
36. Re:Why not in the US? by TWX · 2015-02-23 08:25 · Score: 0
  
  Apple fronted GT Technologies the money to build the facility in order to build displays for Apple products, and requred GT itself as collateral. Apple then chose not to buy GT-manfuactured Sapphire screens, and acquired GT when they could not pay back the money fronted. Tell me again how that's an honest business practice.
  
  --
  Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
37. Re: Why not in the US? by wol · 2015-02-23 09:53 · Score: 1
  
  Current cite demonstrating US having one of the lowest effective rates?
  BTW, your definitions of effective rate and statutory rate are flat out wrong. Effective rate is the tax paid and accrued on net income on a financial accounting basis. The statutory rate is the rate of tax paid on net income on a tax accounting basis. The fact that there is a difference between the two is an indictment of how the tax system is written. It has nothing to do with having zero deductions.
  
  --
  If you think deeply enough, you will have no single direction for your outrage.
38. Re:Why not in the US? by gnasher719 · 2015-02-23 10:02 · Score: 1
  
  Apple fronted GT Technologies the money to build the facility in order to build displays for Apple products, and requred GT itself as collateral. Apple then chose not to buy GT-manfuactured Sapphire screens, and acquired GT when they could not pay back the money fronted. Tell me again how that's an honest business practice.
  You forgot the part where GT didn't actually manage to produce the Sapphire Crystal displays that they had promised they could deliver. And you forgot the part where GT management lined their pockets with stock options, making sure that they made their money, no matter whether the company did well or not.
39. Re:Why not in the US? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-02-23 22:30 · Score: 0
  
  BS. Its to prevent the latest government ideas about taxing the US companies for their tax sheltering shenanigans.
  "See? we do have business abroad! its not just so we won't pay taxes"
  Lawyers will be lawyers.
40. Re:Why not in the US? by eoinmadden · 2015-02-24 03:27 · Score: 1
  
  If the US or Spain want to compete with Ireland on tax, they are welcome to. Why should we apologise for being competitive? The City of London has similar tax arrangements, and yet that hyprocrite David Cameron frown at Ireland doing it. The right wing in the USA want lower taxes AND higher subsidies for all corporations, but when Ireland offers lower coporation tax, and no subsidies, the same Americans whinge and whine. Personally I don't believe the location of this data center has nothing got to do with our low corporate taxes btw, and everything got to do with our cool windy climate.
41. Re:Why not in the US? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-02-24 03:57 · Score: 0
  
  All of the other answers so far miss the main reason - it is because European corporations have zero trust in USA to keep their data confidential, and also due to legal barriers which prevent storing certain sensitive data outside the EU. If Apple wants to provide a cloud platform that people/corporations dare use, they need to offer local storage in EU juristiction.
  Other than that, there is probably a latency issue, green energy aspect (in Denmark we are front-runners for various efficiency and green energy technologies), and I bet that Tim Cook really likes Denmark - we are open and friendly.
42. Re:Why not in the US? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-02-24 04:01 · Score: 0
  
  You should read up on the irish-dutch sandwitch tax dodge. That is exactly what they are doing.
  http://www.investopedia.com/te...
  They may use this technique, but it has nothing to do with the current news.
  Dutch people live in Holland
  Danish people live in Denmark.
  The new datacenter is in Denmark, not Holland.
43. Re:Why not in the US? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-02-24 04:04 · Score: 0
  
  The treaty you refer to is between Ireland and Holland (where the Dutch live), not Denmark where danish people live.
Other green fuel sources. by Thanshin · 2015-02-23 02:45 · Score: 3, Funny

which will use wind power and other green fuel sources
Green fuel sources like, for example, soylent green.
1. Re:Other green fuel sources. by drunk_punk · 2015-02-23 03:15 · Score: 2
  
  I suspect they are refering to new, crisp, hundred dollar bills.
2. Re:Other green fuel sources. by oodaloop · 2015-02-23 03:58 · Score: 1
  
  I'm sure there are some types of crude oil that are the color green.
  
  --
  Tic-Tac-Toe, Global Thermonuclear War, and relationships all have the same winning move.
3. Re:Other green fuel sources. by ArcadeMan · 2015-02-23 04:00 · Score: 1
  
  Or green-painted coal.
  
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4. Re:Other green fuel sources. by oldmac31310 · 2015-02-23 04:57 · Score: 1
  
  In Ireland it would have to be turf. No indigenous coal supply.
  
  --
  http://www.acetonestudio.com
5. Re:Other green fuel sources. by eoinmadden · 2015-02-24 04:17 · Score: 1
  
  We've a good wind supply though.
6. Re:Other green fuel sources. by oldmac31310 · 2015-02-26 07:31 · Score: 1
  
  Rain power, anyone?
  
  --
  http://www.acetonestudio.com
100% reneweble? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-02-23 02:54 · Score: 0

100%? like pendulum swinging forever 100%? exergy never runs out? astounding
1. Re:100% reneweble? by Thanshin · 2015-02-23 03:10 · Score: 1
  
  So, from a concept expressed by: one number, the "%" sign, and one word, you managed to not understand the one word and make a stupid comment base on that lack of understanding?
  Congratulations on using the "anonymous coward" feature properly.
2. Re:100% reneweble? by guruevi · 2015-02-23 03:15 · Score: 1
  
  Not in the foreseeable future (next billion-or-so years)
  
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3. Re:100% reneweble? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-02-23 03:15 · Score: 0
  
  Yes, thank you. Can you also tell me how do we renew the sun? That is also often cited as renewable and is a confusion point for me.
4. Re:100% reneweble? by Iniamyen · 2015-02-23 04:36 · Score: 1
  
  I'd like to sell you my renewable energy source - a spring. In fact, it is more easily renewable than many other renewable energies. All you do is recoil the spring again.
5. Re:100% reneweble? by jbengt · 2015-02-23 07:43 · Score: 1
  
  Can you also tell me how do we renew the sun?
  I think by modifying the photon torpedoes and launching them into the interior of the sun, you can bring a dying sun back to life, but you have to watch out for neutron drift. It was described on TNG, but I can't remember the details.
using non apple hardware? will they be on osX? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-02-23 03:07 · Score: 0

using non apple hardware? will they be on osX?
1. Re:using non apple hardware? will they be on osX? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-02-23 03:10 · Score: 0
  
  theyll be running the well-regarded OS X Server application on leftover aluminum mac pros for all your needs content
It would cretainly be by invictusvoyd · 2015-02-23 03:16 · Score: 1

More green of them to make devices that last for atleast 10 years .. Think of the electronic waste that apple/samsung and etc have created in the last 10 years !!!!
1. Re:It would cretainly be by ArcadeMan · 2015-02-23 03:58 · Score: 1
  
  The greenest "Mac" computer you can have is a hackintosh PC tower in which you can replace components one by one.
  
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2. Re:It would cretainly be by Anonymous Coward · 2015-02-24 03:00 · Score: 0
  
  More green of them to make devices that last for atleast 10 years .. Think of the electronic waste that apple/samsung and etc have created in the last 10 years !!!!
  What cell phone company makes phones that last ten years?
  A ten year old phone would still be 2G/2.5G. Never mind that you'd probably have dropped it in the toilet six years ago.
Another fail power plan. by Anonymous Coward · 2015-02-23 03:39 · Score: 0, Insightful

Wind and solar has a proven track record of being UNSUSTAINABLE unless a disproportionate amount of land is used (ruined) to commit for huge unsightly wind and solar farms.
God I hope nobody lives anywhere near where those engineering abomination will be built. Wind power generation is HORRIBLE to live near.
^THIS to the nth! by Anonymous Coward · 2015-02-23 03:53 · Score: -1

And I think it's just a crime that replacing batteries is such a pain in the ass and expensive just because they can.
Things are made to be disposable just to keep sales up and to give people an excuse to rationalize that they "need" to buy a new device when it's just because they want the new and shiny thing.
1. Re:^THIS to the nth! by drinkypoo · 2015-02-23 04:18 · Score: 2
  
  And I think it's just a crime that replacing batteries is such a pain in the ass and expensive just because they can.
  
  They made the phone thinner at the expense of user-replaceable batteries because buyers care more about phone thickness than about being able to replace batteries. HTH, HAND.
  
  --
  "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Apple to build green data centers by ArcadeMan · 2015-02-23 03:57 · Score: 3, Funny

Yeah sure, paint them green if you want, they're yours.

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1. Re:Apple to build green data centers by Anonymous Coward · 2015-02-24 00:17 · Score: 0
  
  Is it necessary to stipulate a color? Datacenters don't get many visitors.
  Maybe they are in conservation areas and need to blend in with some trees.
Oh great by Anonymous Coward · 2015-02-23 04:03 · Score: 0

So now they are investing in socialism! Traitors.
My theory by LetterRip · 2015-02-23 04:32 · Score: 0

My theory is that these are inducements to keep the 'double irish' and 'dutch sandwich' tax dodges available. It seems highly unlikely that Ireland and Netherlands, the two countries that have Allowed apple to avoid hundreds of billions in taxes, and which have suggested that they might change these tax practices, have suddenly become recipients of major investments.
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/double-irish-with-a-dutch-sandwich.asp
1. Re:My theory by wol · 2015-02-23 09:43 · Score: 2
  
  You do realize that Denmark and The Netherlands are different countries, don't you?
  
  --
  If you think deeply enough, you will have no single direction for your outrage.
Why a datacenter in Ireland by Anonymous Coward · 2015-02-23 04:41 · Score: 0

I don't understand why they build a datacenter in Ireland, it's not exactly the most central part of Europe. When you build a datacenter isn't it best to build it in the center for the most populated area to reduce the latency for as many people as possible?

To me it seems like an European company building a datacenter in Puerto Rico to have a datacenter closer to its customers in the US.
1. Re:Why a datacenter in Ireland by Anonymous Coward · 2015-02-23 05:05 · Score: 0
  
  if they are storing tons of icloud data that is retrieved not that often but stored, latency of varying ms not all that important? the ping difference between being in central eu and ireland not really that much. a guess
Take profits! by Anonymous Coward · 2015-02-23 04:56 · Score: 0

Run, screaming with the profits you have made on this stock. Otherwise, the malinvestments of these leftist lunatics will come back to haunt you!
Not exactly by ThatsNotPudding · 2015-02-23 06:21 · Score: 0

Because they already have major data centers in the US and want more of them closer to their customers in Europe?
Nope. These placements are being offered as bribe money in kind to lessen or totally eliminate the fines Apple should have to pay for playing a tax evasion shell game with their massive global profits.

If you really think these being placed in Ireland (Double Irish) and the Netherlands (Dutch Sandwich) just by sheer accident, you may be one of the most Pollyannaish fanboys queuing in front of the Chrystal Cubic Cathedral.
1. Re:Not exactly by Anonymous Coward · 2015-02-23 07:16 · Score: 0
  
  The last time I checked, Denmark was not the Netherlands.
100% renewable energy by ic3m4n1 · 2015-02-23 07:16 · Score: 1

This is becoming popular PR stunt for making people look other way from no humans involved in operations.
But we are green so we are cool people you know.
Spin by Anonymous Coward · 2015-02-23 07:17 · Score: 0

"Green" is a nice spin on paying even less U.S. taxes. May as well join all the other U.S. energy companies doing the same thing.
What it should say: by kuzb · 2015-02-23 15:42 · Score: 1

Apple spends 2 billion in places where they can continue avoid paying US taxes and the governments bend over backwards to treat them like royalty. Anyone who thinks this is about "green power" is delusional.

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BeauHD. Worst editor since kdawson.
1. Re:What it should say: by eoinmadden · 2015-02-24 04:18 · Score: 1
  
  You are confusing Denmark and the Netherlands.
2. Re:What it should say: by gstoddart · 2015-02-24 06:37 · Score: 1
  
  Still, something is rotten in the state of Denmark. ;-)
  
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  Lost at C:>. Found at C.
Mod Parent UP Please! by Burz · 2015-02-23 17:39 · Score: 1

You should read up on the irish-dutch sandwitch tax dodge. That is exactly what they are doing.
http://www.investopedia.com/te...
"DEFINITION of 'Double Irish With A Dutch Sandwich'
A tax avoidance technique employed by certain large corporations, involving the use of a combination of Irish and Dutch subsidiary companies to shift profits to low or no tax jurisdictions. The double Irish with a Dutch sandwich technique involves sending profits first through one Irish company, then to a Dutch company and finally to a second Irish company headquartered in a tax haven. This technique has allowed certain corporations to dramatically reduce their overall corporate tax rates."
Sicne when was someone from Denmark 'Dutch'? by Anonymous Coward · 2015-02-23 22:03 · Score: 0

If I missed the point of your link then I'm sorry but please be more specific.
While I cannot comment on the Irish Taxbreak thing, Denmark really isn't a Tax Haven at all.
Not by any stretch of the imagination.