X2nSAT is not a Data Center!

X2nSAT is a satellite dish based technology company in Petaluma providing communication services to essential businesses with remote operations.

Google AI claimed X2n was a data center because it was a technology based company using 1MW of energy. Turns out Google AI has a very loose definition of “data center” and more AI inquiry found “Legally, a data center is defined under U.S. federal law (42 U.S.C. § 17112) as any free-standing structure or facility within a larger building that primarily houses electronic equipment used to process, store, and transmit digital information, utilizing environmental control systems to maintain proper operating conditions. [1]”. On the other hand, the public believes “data centers” are these huge 100+ acre buildings with massive servers using AI programing.

What is X2nSat?

I interviewed Garrett Hill, CEO, and got a tour of the site.

Most large business park buildings have 1MW lines going to the building which is why Google got the energy potential from PGE hookup data but actual energy use turns out to be at least 100x less. Garrett said they were creative in getting the energy efficiency down using our cool Petaluma night air and green energy during the day. No water cooling on site.

There are only 5 racks of servers in one “Telco Room” that mostly transfer data, not store it.

About a dozen satellite dishes transfer information to and from remote sites over half the world.

The dozen or so satellite dishes use very low energy to receive and transmit signals to satellites that are more than 2000 miles distant from the earth. In comparison, the space station is only about 100 miles away. These satellite dishes see approximately 2/3 of the earth from Petaluma. 1/3 to the East and 1/3 to the West and see the Northern and Southern hemispheres equally.

Their connections go to a large set of energy, water, and emergency stations covering over 50% of the earth and coordinate with very remote locations to monitor local situation to keep necessary equipment functioning, e.g. monitoring a fire near a cell tower. Partners include safety and emergency centers across the US, including PGE and our own local police. X2nSAT provides a great service to a larger community. They also provide strong financial support to local causes and nonprofit organizations like Rotary.

The bottom line: we want to keep, protect, and expand businesses like X2nSat that provide local jobs, local taxes, local goodwill, and regional benefits.