Pima County considers temporary ban on data centers

Pima County, Arizona, is considering a four-month temporary ban on new data centers after the Pima County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to direct county staff to draft a resolution. The proposed moratorium aims to provide time for the county to develop comprehensive rules and guidelines for data center developments, addressing concerns over their substantial energy and water usage.

Supervisor Matt Heinz emphasized the need for "guardrails and guidelines" to ensure developers understand expectations and to provide "adequate transparency for residents." The temporary ban, if enacted, would not impact Project Blue, a data center currently under construction as the county's first large facility.

This move follows Tucson, Pima County’s largest city, which recently implemented its own zoning regulations for large data centers, covering location, design standards, noise, backup power, water use, environmental review, and public notice. Jen Springman, a coalitions manager at the Phoenix-based Goldwater Institute, commented on the broader trend of local governments pushing back against data centers, often due to perceived high water and electricity demands. She argued that these concerns are often based on "fundamental misunderstandings" about modern data center efficiencies, particularly regarding water use in closed-loop systems. Springman also highlighted the economic benefits, such as significant tax revenue, citing an example where Meta's data center development in Richland Parish, Louisiana, led to substantial teacher bonuses. She warned that moratoriums could deter technological infrastructure investment and shift development elsewhere.