"The superfast broadband roll-out in 10 cities will drive data growth which in turn directly grows data-center applications and power.  It is bad for the nation’s carbon footprint ambitions unless all of the growth is low-carbon enabling applications - which it won’t be since it will all be social and domestic HD format driven and is exacerbated by the soon-to-be 4G roll-out (the UK being the last in Europe to to even start when some have already finished) 

Scrapping the CRC tax was always on the agenda.  I have been working on this for one year with the Intellect Data Centre Council talking directly to DECC.  We thought we were (and still maybe) on the cusp of changing the CRC into a CCA for data-centres.  The work continues as we speak (meeting with DECC in two weeks).  If (rather when) the CRC tax is scrapped it will be replaced by a straight carbon tax in the tariff - which is much better as it removes all uncertanty."

Ian Bitterlin, CTO Ark Continuity and DatacenterDynamics Blogger

Budget Coverage: UK CRC tax may be scrapped

See the original UK Budget story here and more comments from other UK data center industry players below:

On365: “It is just more spin to hide a straight-forward tax”

SGI: “All in all – a very positive budget for IT and data center businesses”

Bird & Bird: "Incentives to enhance creaking power distribution infrastructure seem to have been missed out"

Grant Thornton: “There will be a relaxation of the rules requiring businesses to operate mainly in the UK”

Data Center Alliance: "It is essential the new environment tax should encourage best practice"

Sudlows: “We would welcome any simplification to what has always been a complicated tax proposal”

White and Case: "There will be further twists and turns relating to the CRC tax"

Iceotope: “The Government needs to recognise that green initiatives and innovation can lead to financial savings”

Ark Continuity: "When the CRC tax is scrapped it will be replaced by a straight carbon tax"

PMB holdings: “Change of building uses will undoubtedly help stimulate the growth of the data centre market”

Colt Data Center Services: “We advocate the government considers going further”

Geo Networks: “This week’s budget announcement will leave the data center industry waiting and holdings its breath"

BCS: “CRC, the question remains: What might replace it?”