Canada’s “The Globe and Mail” has an article on data centres.

Technology for Tomorrow

Business seek ways to reduce data centre costs

As software-as-service, cloud computing and streaming Internet services grow, companies big and small face exorbitant electricity costs

Ian Harvey

Globe and Mail updateTuesday, Sep. 01, 2009 08:39AM EDT

When crude oil goes up, drivers can shop around for gas but when it comes to electricity, businesses are subject to paying high rates because most operate during daylight hours when prices peak. They can't simply up and move our homes or businesses to the cheapest energy location.

One major headache for business are data centres, those special secured and cooled rooms with rack upon rack of monolithic black towers humming away amidst a tangle of cables that consume vast amounts of electricity.

“Up to 30 per cent of energy costs in a business can come just from the servers,” says Bill St. Arnaud, Chief Research Officer at CANARIE (Canada's Advanced Internet Development Organization). “And if that's dirty power – from coal or oil – under Carbon Tax legislation proposed in the U.S. it could be triple the cost it is now.”

The article sites a variety of industry experts and facts to educate the reader on data centre issues. Then closes with a pitch for Canada vs. NY’s Buffalo win of Yahoo.

Similarly, Yahoo is building a 200,000 square foot datacentre outside Buffalo because it will save $100-million over 15 years by accessing Niagara Falls' sustainable and affordable hydro. They're also planning to offset cooling costs by using the frigid Buffalo winter air.

Canada has many suitable locations, says Mr. St. Arnaud, pointing to our abundance of hydro, cold climate, deep lakes and river, political and geographic stability.