QUINCY — Construction has begun on a new data center near the intersection of D Street Northwest and Road R Northwest in Quincy.

Site preparation began in late January for the facility, which will be 240,000 square feet when it’s finished. Chelsi Smith, senior account manager for Pierpont Communications, which handles CyrusOne’s public relations, declined to provide any project details.

“We cannot comment on specific construction timelines or customer demand but are continually evaluating next steps in the project at this point,” she wrote in an email to the Herald.

A site plan on the CyrusOne website projects six data processing facilities, called a “data hall.” Each data hall covers 40,000 square feet, some on one story, some on two. The site plan also includes a proposed new electrical substation to provide power.

The overview of the project cited the low cost of electricity as one reason for locating in Quincy, projecting an average electricity rate of 2.5 cents per kilowatt-hour, compared to an average of about 10.4 cents per KWh nationally.

The overview also cited the Quincy area’s fiber optic cable connections.

“With ever-changing business needs and data generated continuously in different environments, our data centers are designed based on demand for applications and the associated data and workflows that need to move seamlessly in support of our clients’ business goals,” Smith wrote.

The electricity is provided by the Grant County PUD and its hydropower projects. As a result, the Quincy location provides a reduced carbon footprint, the website said. The website also cited sales tax exemptions for data center tenants.

When it’s finished the site will be able to accommodate up to 90 megawatts of use, according to the overview. The site will have 24-hour security, multiple steps for entry and interior and exterior video surveillance.

The Dallas, Texas-based company’s website said it has more than 50 data centers worldwide.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at [email protected].