US provider of data center services Involta announced a plan to build a data center in Duluth, Minnesota. The project is currently in the design stage, and final approvals from local agencies are still pending, according to an Involta news release.

In a statement, Involta CEO Bruce Lehrman said local officials played a crucial role in moving the project forward. "Without the assistance of St. Louis County, the City of Duluth and Apex it is unlikely this project would have made it out of the planning stage."

Apex is a private economic-development organization.

Lehrman also said the local utility Minnesota Power assisted with community expertise and real estate in addition to providing power for the facility.

The planned building will measure more than 20,000 sq ft and offer 10,000 sq ft of data center floor. Involta says it is investing US$10.5m in the project.

The building is being designed to satisfy one of the US Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards. To save energy, the data center will use outside air to supplement its cooling capacity.

The company is planning to bring the facility online by the third quarter of 2012.