Sustainable data centers can be Arizona's future. Here's how | Opinion

An opinion piece published in azcentral.com and The Arizona Republic emphasizes the need for careful planning to manage Arizona's burgeoning data center industry. The authors, Steve Zylstra, president and CEO of Arizona Tech Council, and Kelly Trombley, senior director of state policy at Ceres, advocate for coordination among developers, utilities, policymakers, and communities to ensure data centers serve as economic enablers while avoiding strain on the power grid and adverse community impacts. The article references a new report from Gov. Katie Hobbs' Energy Promise Taskforce, which outlines a strategy for the state to power data centers with affordable, clean energy. The report aims to modernize the power grid, build community trust, and position Arizona at the forefront of the U.S. innovation economy. It addresses the significant power demands of data centers, particularly with the growth of AI, advanced manufacturing, and electrification, which highlight existing grid weaknesses. Key aspects of the task force's recommendations include fostering community engagement to prevent residents from bearing the costs of development and grid upgrades, and leveraging clean energy sources like solar, wind, geothermal, and battery storage. The report suggests faster integration of these sources through grid-enhancing technologies. It also calls for policy alignment to streamline permitting processes for data centers and clean energy projects, and for formalized, transparent community agreements. Regarding water use, the article notes that companies like Google and Microsoft are already implementing sustainable practices, such as Google's air-cooled data center in Mesa and both companies' pledges for global water replenishment in water-stressed regions. The report proposes a coherent policy framework to ensure responsible water management and integrate cumulative environmental impacts into development strategies. Ultimately, the authors view the AI-driven data center buildout as a significant opportunity for Arizona, provided it is managed collaboratively and holistically to avoid increased power bills or community pollution.