Tucson protesters rally against Project Blue data center

Dozens of protesters from the No Desert Data Center Coalition gathered before sunrise near the Pima County Fairgrounds in Tucson, Arizona, attempting to block construction crews from breaking ground on Project Blue, a data center project. Project Blue, developed by Beale Infrastructure, was initially opposed by the Tucson City Council, a decision seen as a victory by the coalition. However, the project was subsequently approved by the Arizona Corporation Commission in December after Beale Infrastructure redesigned its plans. The new design features an air-cooling, closed-loop system that eliminates water usage, addressing a key environmental concern. Despite the project's approval and the developer's environmental adjustments, protesters remain angry and feel betrayed, citing a lack of transparency from Beale Infrastructure. They highlight that the land for the data center was annexed and is considered tribal land by the Tohono O'odham Nation. Protesters attempted to obstruct workers and slow traffic, vowing to continue their efforts until the project is stopped.