Data center proposals multiply across Southern Arizona, with very little done to address the environmental impacts these facilities can pose.
In both Pima and Pinal County, several proposals are still in early stages and others are now advancing through planning and construction phases. We recognize that some projects may move forward.
This includes proposals such as Project Blue in Pima County, the Vermaland Project in Pinal County, the Luckett Road proposals in northern Marana, along with others.
The Coalition is working with local governments on the development of enforceable guardrails — including ordinances, zoning codes, and policies — to try to ensure that any approvals come with meaningful protections and real community benefits.
This includes updated zoning codes in Pima County and the City of Tucson — we are members of Tucson’s Data Centers Technical Advisory Committee as well as its Ad Hoc Committee on Large Quantity Water Users Ordinance, for example. This is just a start, though: there must be state and national-level guardrails in place.
Update: Tucson Adopts Data Center Regulations
On August 5, 2026, the Tucson Mayor and Council approved new regulations for large-scale data centers. The Coalition strongly supported the ordinance and worked with the City throughout its development. Several of our recommendations were incorporated, including stronger consideration of natural open spaces and riparian habitats when siting data centers, and the use of tools such as an Environmental Resource Report to guide development intensity rather than relying on rigid lot coverage percentages.
Local codes will not be enough — they may try to protect a single jurisdiction, but they do nothing to protect our shared regional resources.
Three concerning votes
TOWN OF MARANA
Marana’s January 6, 2026, approval of a Beale Infrastructure data center project across two parcels, called Luckett Rd North and South, highlights a worrying precedent. Marana’s data center ordinance largely protects the Town’s direct interests, but it does not address the electricity demand and associated impacts on our region’s water. The Coalition urged Marana’s Town Council to delay its vote and address issues with regional resource use — instead, they voted unanimously in favor of the project.
We were pleased, though, to see the last-minute inclusion of a decommissioning plan — which we had called on Marana to consider.
PIMA COUNTY
We remain deeply disappointed in Pima County’s leadership, including the County Administrator and Board of Supervisors, for their role in enabling Project Blue.
As just one example, the Coalition was disappointed by Pima County’s 3-2 vote in favor of a community benefits agreement with Project Blue’s Humphrey’s Peak Properties, L.L.C. This was an addendum item on its Board of Supervisors meeting agenda, with a public hearing that was scheduled for late in the board meeting on December 16, 2025 — further limiting public input. Community benefits must have the input of our community. The lack of consultation and transparency further cements public lack of trust in our county on this issue.
PINAL COUNTY
There are several data center proposals in Pinal County, but the county has no data center ordinance in place. Staff have shared there is a draft in “infancy”. Demand that Pinal County places a moratorium on all applications until the ordinance is in place!
The gigantic La Osa Data center project, which directly borders Ironwood Forest National Monument on Sasco Road, will have another public hearing at the Pinal County Board of Supervisors on August 26, 2026. The Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection and Friends of Ironwood Forest have spoken up several times against this project and will keep doing so. The community is also actively opposed to this project.
Ultimately, the Sonoran Desert demands a different approach to economic development than large-scale data centers. But as the applications continue to come in, we remain committed to:
- safeguarding the region’s water — a shared resource;
- advocating for a transition to cleaner energy sources;
- advocating for the appropriate siting (i.e location) of industrial projects as part of our land use work.
These priorities will continue to guide our engagement with elected officials, policymakers and developers. We are grateful to have many partners in this work, including our coalition members and the Watershed Management Group. And we welcome your feedback, input, and support as we navigate these rapidly-evolving proposals together.
