A proposed $3.6 billion data center, Project Blue, planned for Pima County, Arizona, has ignited a fierce community backlash due to concerns over its massive water and energy consumption and a perceived lack of transparency. The project, slated to be the largest development in southern Arizona, was revealed to the public on June 17th when the county board of supervisors narrowly approved the sale and rezoning of 290 acres for the development by Beale Infrastructure.
Residents became alarmed by the project's potential impact on water resources in the arid Sonoran Desert, a region historically committed to water conservation. Data centers require significant water for cooling and humidity control. While Beale Infrastructure initially claimed the project would be "water positive" without providing details, an analysis projected it could strain the Santa Cruz River. The company later stated it would use treated wastewater from underground storage and a contaminated groundwater remediation plant, estimating water usage at over 1,900 acre-feet annually. However, critics argued this would still lead to net groundwater depletion, and a proposed "water positivity rate" system, where the company pays to offset consumption, was criticized as substituting "paper water" for actual water.
Further public outcry emerged when it was revealed that Amazon Web Services (AWS) was potentially financing the project, intensifying frustrations with Amazon. AWS stated they had no current commitments but declined to comment on past or future affiliations. The timing of a proposed 14% electricity rate increase by Tucson Electric Power (TEP) shortly after the county's vote, though coincidental, fueled public suspicion that the rate hike was linked to Project Blue's energy demands.
Community organizers launched a campaign, "Draw the Line," urging residents to voice their opposition to the city council. Public meetings became highly contentious, with residents feeling their concerns were ignored by developers and city officials. On August 6th, the city council unanimously voted to halt discussions with Beale Infrastructure, a decision met with celebration by the public.
Despite this, Beale Infrastructure has not abandoned the project, proposing a revised design featuring an air-cooled, closed-loop system designed to use significantly less water. This revised design has been submitted for approval by the Republican-led Arizona Corporation Commis... download the app to read more
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