Dave T. mentioned that both Facebook and Apple are locating data centers in Prineville, in eastern Oregon. Dave’s comment: “This shows that even IT folk might be able to find jobs in The American Redoubt area, and makes me wonder if survivability factors into these companies’ desire to locate there, along with considerations like inexpensive power, inexpensive land and tax incentives.” JWR Adds: Both Oregon and Washington have implemented special tax incentives to lure new data centers. Both Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Rackspace are building data centers in Morrow, Oregon, and Google set up one of theirs an hour’s drive down river in The Dalles. Sabey Corporation’s new data center is in Quincy, Washington. (Quincy is east of the Cascades, between Ellensburg and Moses Lake.) Dell Computer also built a data center in Quincy. All of these data centers utilize very inexpensive hydroelectric power from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). Depending on volume, big commercial customers pay as little as 4 cents per kilowatt hour. There are many other advantages to setting up shop in The Redoubt: Low crime rates, low labor costs, unobtrusive governments, geological stability, geographic isolation from urban risks (such as rioting, copper wiring thefts, and vandalism), relatively mild weather, a strong work ethic, reduced workman’s compensation claims, low cost of living for employees, et cetera.
o o o
Drought forecast for Southwest, California ‘not optimistic’. (Thanks to C.D.V. for the link.)
o o o
SurvivalBlog’s Editor at Large Michael Z. Williamson sent this amazing aurora video: Celestial Lights
o o o
I noticed that the layout of The Apartment Prepper’s Blog has been revamped. You’ll find some very useful info there.
o o o
James C. pointed me to an interesting interview: Secrets of Survival with Joel Skousen. He describes in detail his excellent book Strategic Relocation–North American Guide to Safe Places. His comments on the perils of relocating overseas begin at the 19:45 mark.