See 40 years of Wind Power in the USA

Fast Company has a post showing 40 years of Wind Power in the USA.  Thanks to Google’s investments in wind power, we take it for granted Wind Power is a renewable energy source for data centers.

Watch 40 Years Of Wind Farms Spreading Across The Country

We've gone from one small collection of turbines in 1975 to nearly 1,000 wind farms--capable of generating enough electricity for 15 million homes.

Recent NASA studies on the effects of climate change have been rather harrowing, highlighting the need for alternative energy sources. NASA climate scientist Dr. Drew Shindell stated that “it's more clear than ever that we need large, rapid emissions reductions to avoid the worst damages from climate change.”

Reducing our overall energy usage is obviously a big part of curtailing emissions. But renewable energy sources are also a key piece of the puzzle. So it is somewhat heartening to play watch this .GIF of wind-farm growth from the Department of Energy.

The map starts with one tiny wind farm in southern California in 1975. From there, wind farms continue to spread throughout California for the next two decades. Then in 1994 the first wind farm outside of California appears. From there, they quickly spread across 39 states by 2012 (the most recent statistics available). You can play with an interactive version of this map here.

Here is the original source of data for the graphic from energy.gov. There are a bunch of other cool maps.

Psst, WSJ says the Data Center is Cloud, Duhh

WSJ has a post in its CIO journal that had me laughing this morning.

The Morning Download: Microsoft Shift Shows the Data Center Is the Cloud

[Steve Rosenbush]

Deputy Editor

The Morning Download comes from the editors of CIO Journal and cues up the most important news in business technology every weekday morning. Send us your tips, compliments and complaints. You can get The Morning Download emailed to you each weekday morning by clicking here.

Good morning. The transformation underway at Microsoft Corp. probably is the biggest change that the company has undergone since it discovered the Internet back in the ’90s. The evolution tells us as much about the market as it tells us about the company itself, which is shrugging off the weight of its past.

In recent weeks, the company that once fought for the ability to bundle its applications to its platform launched Office for Apple Inc.’s iPad, open-sourced more of its .NET software framework and renamed its Windows Azure cloud computing platform as Microsoft Azure. ”We are witnessing the biggest shift in attitude by Microsoft since the pivot around the Internet in the late 90′s,” IDC analyst Al Hilwa tells CIO Journal.

I don’t know about you, but I wonder where people thought the Cloud was if it was not in data centers.

How many IT/DC problems are caused by the mindset of Repairing vs. Fixing the problem

The wise can see the difference between repairing a problem and fixing a problem.  A repair is many times temporary whereas a fix can take more time, resources, and money.

Here is a story about a simple problem of transporting a crane across a bridge.  When I read this story it reminds of the problems when people don’t understand the difference between a repairing vs. fixing a problem.

The story begins with a company that makes very large and very heavy pieces of equipment. 

They had a special order for an especially large piece of equipment. They completed the piece of equipment and got it ready to ship to the client. In order to ship it to the client it had to pass over a bridge that was located very close to the plant where the piece of equipment was built. 

As the piece of equipment was passing over the bridge, the bridge collapsed and the huge piece of equipment fell into the river. The company quickly went into action and rented a crane that was used to extricate the piece of equipment from the river and place it safely on the plant side of the bridge. 

The city which owned the bridge quickly went into action building a new bridge relying on the assumed knowledge that the company would never try to go over the bridge with another piece of equipment that weighed so much.

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Click this link to read the whole story.

AWS says Greenpeace you got the wrong rock, get a different one, this one, no, this one, no...

One of the funny words of observation I remember is Sheila Brady during the development of System 7 telling the story of how you can play with your dog and it brings you a rock.  You can tell the dog no not that rock.  Go get another one.   It gets another one.  No not that rock.  this one. no.  this one.  no.  The dog can keep this up trying to please you.  Sometimes people expect you to be like a dog.  How about if the software works this way.  No.  How about this way.  No.  This way.  No.  Can you tell me what you want?  No. I’ll tell you when I see it.

This reminds me of Amazon’s interaction with Greenpeace.  Greenpeace gives Amazon numbers on its data center carbon footprint.  No that’s not accurate.  What is wrong with the numbers.  Go get another rock and I’ll tell you if it is the right rock.  Greenpeace isn’t dumb enough to play this game and this game is getting documented.  Forbes posts on the topic.

In a statement emailed to me at my request, an AWS spokesperson agrees with Greenpeace that clean sources of energy should be a priority but says the Greenpeace analysis “misses the mark by using false assumptions on AWS operations and inaccurate data on AWS energy consumption. We provided this feedback to Greenpeace prior to publishing their report.”

The company also makes the point that the AWS Cloud reduces dependence on smaller, over-provisioned data centers that are less energy-efficient. It notes:

We work hard on our own, and together with our power providers all over the world, to offer AWS Cloud services in an environmentally friendly way in all of our regions. AWS operates efficient and highly utilized data centers across 10 different regions globally, two of which (Oregon and GovCloud Regions) use 100% carbon-free power. We like offering customers the choice of being able to run carbon-free, and we love doing it without charging a premium over other North American regions.

You could argue whether or not AWS has been as proactive as it should be about clean energy sourcing. The point is that we really can’t tell, and that is probably Greenpeace’s biggest issue.

Could Amazon tell Greenpeace how they are wrong?  Yes.  But, Amazon likes Greenpeace not knowing what the answers are.  How would you like to get a test with a C on it and nothing marked with what is wrong and only Amazon has the answers to the test.  Would you take the test again?  I don’t Greenpeace will until next year when they come up with another guess at what the carbon footprint is of Amazon’s data centers.

DC Executive Mike Manos achieves CTO role at First Data Corporation

If you have been in the data center industry for a while you know who Mike Manos is where he drove Microsoft’s first data center construction projects.  Here is a picture of Mike from his Microsoft days.

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Mike has gone through careers at Digital Realty Trust, Nokia, and AOL, growing his IT management skills.

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And now Michael has a new role as CTO at First Data reporting to the CEO.  It was pleasure to see that Mike has made it to CTO role.  Mike and I had many conversations in his Microsoft office or at the local Wendy’s.  I wouldn’t go to Wendy's as often as Mike did, but whenever I see the Wendy’s memories of discussing data centers, PUE, and the industry come back.  The burgers are good there and Mike said many times he saw Bill Gates there.  

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I remember when Mike said he had job offers to leave Microsoft and what I think.  I was supportive of Mike leaving as he had so much more potential than being the data center guy.  Mike is one of those people who employees enjoy working for.  Mike has clear vision, fights for the right thing to do, and go to battle for his team. These are the same skills that our departed Olivier Sanche had as well and had the same passion for data centers.

Data Center Operations teaches people many things that can be applied to other parts of IT, and more and more data center executives are growing beyond just running the data centers.  First Data has hired one of people who have their foundation in data centers which makes things more real than the Public Cloud.

“Mike is a key addition to our world-class leadership team and his knowledge and expertise enhances our ability to provide our clients with cutting-edge technology,” said Chiarello. “He is a seasoned technology management executive with a proven track record of successful revenue generation.  Mike’s leadership will be invaluable as we continue to improve our financial position and seek to grow First Data’s business as the global leader and most trusted, reliable and secure network.”

“I am excited to join the new First Data,” said Manos.  “First Data is the biggest player in the payments industry yet it also has an innovative and entrepreneurial spirit. In my role as chief technology officer, I will help First Data maintain and grow its market-leading position as a technology company, a payments company, a security company and a solutions provider.”  

Mike put his own post up.

Well after a bit of time in stealth I am finally able to announce that I have taken the position of Chief Technology Officer at First Data. 

...

The move to First Data is an incredibly exciting move for me for many different reasons but one of the key drivers for me is that I feel that this industry is ripe for change.  It’s a move for me from running and building large scale Internet products and infrastructure to the Financial Services Industry.  

Mike’s move has a fair amount of coverage by  the media. 

Mike Manos Moves From AOL to First Data

Data Center Knowledge - ‎4 hours ago‎
After bringing micro-modules and lights out data centers to AOL, Mike Manos has moved on. The veteran data center industry executive is now the chief technology officer at payment technology specialist First Data, where he will be responsible for the ...
 

Former AOL Exec Named Technology Chief at First Data

Wall Street Journal (blog) - ‎7 hours ago‎
Former AOL executive Mike Manos has joined First Data Corp. as chief technology officer, the company announced today. He will report to Guy Chiarello, First Data's president and the former CIO of JPMorgan Chase & Co., as the firm seeks to invest in new ...
 

First Data Names Chief Technology Officer

Fort Mills Times - ‎7 hours ago‎
ATLANTA — First Data, the global leader in payment technology and services solutions, today announced the appointment of Michael Manos as chief technology officer. In this position, Manos will be responsible for First Data's global technology infrastructure.
 

AOL's chief technology officer jumps ship for Atlanta company

Atlanta Business Chronicle - ‎2 hours ago‎
Manos joins First Data from AOL Inc. (NYSE:AOL), where he served as its chief technology officer and was responsible for global technology and development platforms for all AOL subscription businesses, the industry, technology and media sites, AOL mail ...
 

First Data hires AOL CTO Michael Manos

Infotech Lead - ‎1 hour ago‎
At AOL, Manos was responsible for technology and development platforms for all AOL subscription businesses, the industry, technology and media sites, AOL mail and messaging, and mobile engineering efforts. First Data hires AOL CTO Michael Manos.