There are a bunch of facebook groups protesting rumors that facebook might start charging for its services, but seriously, at a certain point how can they not?  All those ads all over the site must bring in a lot of cash, but they have 300 million users who are on there for a total of 8 billion minutes every day, and more signing up all the time.  The amount of data center space facebook requires must be vast - as shown by all the new data center space deals they keep making.

I wouldn't blame them if they did start charging (which is not to say I would decide to keep my account - rather that I would totally see where they were coming from) but the strategy they're employing instead is much preferable.  They're leasing space with data centers like Fortune, which offer relatively green services. 
The greater efficiency means greater savings as far as cost, which can only be important at this point. Earth2Tech, a technology blog with an environmentalist slant, notes that such a facility utilizes a lot of techniques and equipment, including environmental monitoring, water-side economizers, and hot/cold air containment systems, to maximize energy usage.

It's great to see such a trendsetting site watching out for the environment.  Let's make the most of facebook while it's still free.

-Elizabeth English