Arizona residents protest potential water usage by major data centers

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Residents in Arizona are concerned about the impact of two proposed data centers on their state’s water supply. The $3.6 billion project, known as Project Blue, would be located on Tucson’s southeast edge, while the $5 billion project, also part of Project Blue, would be situated in the town of Marana to its northwest side.

A local resident, Marisol Winfrey Herrera, has joined a group called No Desert Data Center, which opposes both projects. The group believes that these data centers would consume more water and power than Tucson can afford, particularly during a time when the city is already facing a 20% reduction in water flows from the Colorado River since 2000.

Herrera’s concerns are shared by Lisa Shipek, co-executive director of the Watershed Management Group. “We are in the middle of a 30-year drought, which is now an extreme drought,” she said. “Water was a unifying theme in our campaign.”

The proposed data centers would require significant amounts of water and power, with Beale Infrastructure estimating that it would be the city’s largest water consumer and among its largest power consumers.

City Councillor Kevin Dahl reported seeing hundreds of residents turn up to express their opposition to the project at council meetings. While some councillors have expressed concerns about the economic benefits of the project, including the creation of jobs and tax revenue, others have raised concerns about the potential impact on water rates and the heat island effect caused by air conditioners.

The city is currently weighing the pros and cons of allocating a share of its scarce water and power to support the proposed data centers.

Source: Al Jazeera