Ahwatukee Data Center Draws Health and Land-Use Concerns at Mesa Town Hall
Residents opposed to Menlo Digital's data center campus in Ahwatukee raised health, noise, pollution and land-use concerns at a town hall in Mesa with Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes. Mayes is calling for a temporary statewide moratorium on new data center approvals and is considering a nuisance lawsuit, while Gov. Katie Hobbs opposes a moratorium but supports statewide standards.
Dozens of Valley residents spoke against Menlo Digital's 1 million-square-foot hyperscale data center under construction in Ahwatukee during a town hall hosted by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes in Mesa. Opponents cited potential noise, air pollution, health impacts and the project's proximity to residential neighborhoods. The campus includes an onsite substation capable of supplying 257 megawatts of power.
Mayes said her office is investigating the project and that she is considering filing a nuisance lawsuit. She has also called for a temporary moratorium on new data center approvals and plans to lobby lawmakers for statewide action. Phoenix said the project was approved in 2024 under rules treating data centers as similar to office uses, before the city updated its zoning ordinances in 2025.
Gov. Katie Hobbs said Arizona should establish data center standards but does not support pausing development. Some residents defended the facilities for their tax revenue and construction jobs, while Senate President Warren Petersen also argued that data centers are needed and should not be halted.