Pima County health review sets framework for data center decisions
The Pima County Health Department released a public health review to guide decision-makers on data center approvals, focusing on environmental and health impacts like heat, water, and air quality. Following this, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes called for a statewide moratorium on data center construction due to concerns over water and power resources.
The Pima County Health Department (PCHD) has published a comprehensive public health review on data centers, intended to serve as a decision-making framework for local authorities considering data center projects. John Neatherlin of the PCHD explained that the review, developed in collaboration with Johns Hopkins researchers, identifies 21 potential pathways through which data centers could impact air quality, water quality, and public health, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Key concerns for Pima County include increased heat in an already vulnerable environment, water scarcity, and potential increases in asthma rates.
The implications of the PCHD's review extend beyond the county, influencing statewide discussions. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes cited the review as a basis for her call to implement a statewide pause on the approval and construction of data centers. Mayes expressed serious concerns about temperature increases, air and light emissions, and noise pollution, particularly given Arizona's current water vulnerability, exacerbated by Colorado River cuts.
Attorney General Mayes emphasized that the state's existing water and power infrastructure cannot sustain further data center development without a comprehensive plan. She urged the governor and Legislature to enact legislation to halt data center building until the state adequately addresses its water supply challenges. The framework aims to be applied to specific communities within the county to inform local decision-making on data center proposals.