Construction begins on first hyper-scale data center in Pima County

Construction has officially begun on Project Blue, a hyper-scale data center situated north of the Pima County Fairgrounds in Pima County, Arizona. This development proceeds despite active opposition from local residents, including the Desert Data Center Coalition, who blocked construction vehicles and vocalized concerns regarding increased energy bills and water consumption. The project's path has faced hurdles, as the City of Tucson initially voted in August to halt all work on Project Blue. However, the Pima County Board of Supervisors had previously approved the sale of 290 acres for the data center in June, generating nearly $21 million for the county. Subsequently, a "new deal" was forged by TEP (likely Tucson Electric Power) and Beale, which was then approved by the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), effectively overriding the city's previous decision and allowing the project to move forward. Opponents, including Vivek Bharathan and Laura Blair of the Desert Data Center Coalition, expressed feeling "duped" by these developments. Looking ahead, the Pima County Board of Supervisors is expected to introduce new regulations within two weeks to establish future guidelines for data center developments. The Project Blue campus is slated to feature 10 buildings upon completion.