It’s a dream no more. It’s real.
Whinstone U.S. is powering up at its still-growing complex at the former Alcoa Operations.
“Currently we are operating with a staff of 130 team members and we are powering on more computers daily,” Chad Harris of Whinstone told The Reporter.
Whinstone is by far the largest new industry/business to open in the Rockdale area since the shutdown of Alcoa in 2008/9 and Luminant in 2018.
LARGEST—It is expected the local Whinstone facility will become the largest data center in the world at some point. The company has begun the third of three 60,000-square-foor buildings at the site.
“We will be reaching operational capacity during the fourth quarter of 2020,” Harris said.
Whinstone came to the Alcoa location because of the ready availability of a power interface.
While cryptocurrency mining will be performed at the site, it is targeted to accomplish much more.
Data centers require extraordinary amounts of electricity. The former Sandow Switch Yard across the street is Whinstone’s interface.
Whinstone will include blockchain, video rendering and artificial intelligence for clients.
Blockchain, a component of Bitcoin mining, is described as a “digital ledger.” Video rendering is using information from a coded data source to produce and display an image.
Artificial intelligence is the kind of high tech which drives “Siri” and facilitates sophisticated chat options.
County Judge Steve Young said last week Whinstone began the week with 17,000 computers installed and planned to add more during the week.
COMMUNITY—It’s been less than a year since two Whinstone representatives dropped in, out of the blue, to attend a Rockdale city council meeting.
But in that time, Whinstone has become an active member of the Rockdale community.
The company sponsored fireworks for the Rockdale High School graduation ceremony. It was a co-sponsor of Rockdale’s first-ever dog park in February.
The company assisted in repairing lights at the Rockdale Girls Softball League Complex on County Road 305.
It is also to be a sponsor of this October’s Fall Fest which includes a number of activities in downtown Rockdale.
AND MORE—“Whinstone’s Lyle Theriot has been working to bring new companies to Rockdale,” Harris said. “David Schatz is working with Pet Adoption Welfare Service (PAWS) to improve the care and well-being of the area animal shelter.”
Also, Ashton Harris is working on a tech-related project for the future growth of the area and Chad Harris is working with community leaders to promote positive community events.”
JOBS—Julia Cardona of Workforce Solutions of Central Texas-Rockdale office, said Whinstone still has jobs open. For information call the Workforce Center at 512-446-6440.
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