Congressional candidates debate economy, data centers
Candidates Thomas “Jay” Feely IV and Dr. Amish Shah debated data center development during an Arizona Congressional District 1 forum held in Scottsdale. Shah said he opposed placing data centers in the district because of their water and electricity demands, while Feely argued they are important to Arizona’s economy and technological competitiveness.
Arizona Congressional District 1 candidates Thomas “Jay” Feely IV and Dr. Amish Shah addressed data center development during a debate hosted in Scottsdale. Shah said the United States will need data centers as artificial intelligence expands but argued that he did not want them located in the district, citing concerns about protecting voters and managing local resources.
Feely defended data centers as economically and strategically important, saying they contribute billions of dollars to Arizona’s gross domestic product and generate substantial state revenue. The discussion came amid broader debate over Arizona’s water supply, the Colorado River and concerns that data centers could place additional demands on water and electricity systems.