According to reports from local paper Express-News, the San Antonio facility is a key hub for Microsoft's North American distribution. Housed in two almost identical buildings, the first building started operations Monday and the second is expected to be operational within the next few months.

First announced in January 2007, the facility was planned to power Microsoft's Windows Live online services initiative. The company hopes the new center will give Microsoft a competitive advantage over companies like Google and Yahoo! In April 2007, Microsoft purchased the 44-acre site in San Antonio's Westover Hills district to start development.

According to Express-News's reports, the new facility employs 75 and has helped to "ignite a data center building boom in Westover Hills," drawing in such companies as Frost, PowerLoft, Stream Realty, Lowe's, Valero and Christus Health, which have projects either under construction or in planning.

Financial and professional services firm Jones Lang LaSalle (joneslanglasalle.com) led the site selection process. "San Antonio stands up very well against other cities for its robust power and fiber infrastructure, as well as its economical energy rate," Jones Lang LaSalle global data center practice senior vice president Tom Freeman said in a statement.

Among the environmental features of the new San Antonio data center is the ability to use the city's environmental recycled water program and wind power as its primary energy source.