Microsoft will expand its data center in Virginia, the state's governor Bob McDonnell's office said Friday. The company will invest US$150m to build another building at the site and add 21MW of power.

McDonnell said Microsoft's decision to build the first data center at the site Boydton, Virginia announced in September 2010 was the largest economic investment in the history of southern Virginia.

"Just one year later, the company is making another significant investment to expand the operation site and add electric power capacity," Mecklenburg said Friday. "Securing this state-of-the-art data center was an important win for the Commonwealth, and additional growth will further establish Virginia as an Information Technology leader."

When it first decide to move into Boydton, Microsoft was planning to invest $499m in the construction project.

Microsoft has been expanding its data center capacity not only in Virginia. Earlier this month, an Irish news service reported that the company was planning to add 120,000 sq ft to its Dublin data center site.

Also recently, Iowa governor Terry Brandstad reportedly said Microsoft was planning to expand its data center in Des Moines. Microsoft is expected to double its investment in the facility, which means an investment of up to $200m in construction and IT equipment, Des Moines Register reported.