*** Yahoo exploring Grant-Douglas County Wa ***

EPHRATA, WASHINGTON -- 12/01/2005
Grant County and possible Douglas County Washington areas.

Yahoo! Inc. is looking to build a new data center facility
within the Basin, but the company would need a service
commitment from the Grant County Public Utility District,
officials said.

Yahoo, a leading global Internet company, wants a long-term
commitment from the PUD for use of the utility's Zipp fiber
optic network, a communication system the PUD developed
to provide broadband access to the residents of Grant County.

Yahoo spokesperson Kiersten
Hollars declined to comment Monday.

In March, the PUD board of commissioners adopted a "stand
pat" position on the fiber system, meaning no new construction
would happen. Customers in "fiber ready" areas, however, are
still able to connect to the system.

PUD General Manager Tim Culbertson said Monday Yahoo
wants the PUD to commit "to providing fiber access for a long
time."

A commitment with Yahoo would require the PUD to maintain
the fiber network in its current condition for about 20 years, he
said.

Yahoo also is interested in Grant County
because of its low-cost power, Culbertson said.

Last week, one of Yahoo's founders visited the area and met
with members of both the Grant County Economic Development
Council and PUD senior staff, Culbertson said.

"I don't think it's a secret they are thinking about coming here,"
Culbertson said.

GCEDC executive director Terry Brewer, however, would
not comment about a meeting with Yahoo or a visit by
representatives of the company.

Commissioner Tom Flint at Monday's regular meeting asked
Culbertson how far Yahoo had progressed in the site selection
process.

"I think they're a long ways down the road on this,"
Culbertson said.

Yahoo would require about 15-20 megawatts of power from the
PUD to operate and the new facility would staff about 40 employees,
he said.

Commissioner Randy Allred said he was concerned about the
amount of power that may be consumed by a company with 40
local employees.

Meanwhile, Douglas County PUD has also been contacted by
Yahoo as a possible location for the new data center facility,
Culbertson said.

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