Cochise County will regulate data centers, but some residents want more

Cochise County, Arizona, has approved new regulations for data centers following a 3-0 vote by its Board of Supervisors. The new rules mandate a special use authorization process, requiring developers to submit noise impact analyses and water use plans. They also stipulate that data centers must demonstrate sufficient power supply without impacting existing users and largely prohibit the use of potable water for server cooling. While the county's Planning & Zoning Commission had voted 5-4 on March 11 to recommend a 120-day moratorium on data center development, the Board of Supervisors did not pursue it. According to County staff, the conditions required by Arizona law for enacting a moratorium—such as overloaded water infrastructure or endangered public safety—are not currently met in Cochise County. Despite the adoption of regulations, many residents expressed strong opposition, with local realtor Clay Greathouse estimating that "about 95% of the people I talk to are opposed to data centers altogether." County development director Christine McLachlan confirmed significant public feedback, with a majority opposing data centers as a land use. Suggestions from the public included a net-zero water use policy and requirements for developers to contribute to well-digging funds and pay for decommissioning costs. Frank Antenori, chair of the Cochise County Board of Supervisors, acknowledged the public input and promised that the regulations would be strengthened through future work sessions. He anticipates data center applications by 2028 and highlighted that neighboring Pima County and the City of Tucson have less stringent or no specialized data center regulations, despite past developments like 'Project Blue' in Pima County.