Reactions mixed at meeting on massive SpaceX data center in rural Arizona
Residents of Cochise County expressed mixed reactions to SpaceX's proposed 6-gigawatt data center, which would be the largest in Arizona. Opponents raised concerns about noise, wildlife, air pollution, electricity demand, water use and rural character, while supporters cited potential jobs, lower electricity costs and tax revenue.
Residents and stakeholders in rural Cochise County discussed SpaceX's proposed 6-gigawatt data center at a public meeting. Critics said the project could transform the remote area, reduce property values, harm wildlife, increase noise and air pollution, and require several times more electricity than the region currently produces. They also questioned the project's limited public disclosure and what they described as an accelerated approval process.
Some speakers supported the development or said they could support it with strict permit conditions. They called for enforceable requirements covering noise, lighting, water use, environmental impacts and the distribution of tax revenue to nearby communities. Project supporters also pointed to potential job creation, lower electricity bills and up to $200 million in annual revenue for the electric cooperative. The proposal was expected to go before the Cochise County Planning and Zoning Commission and then the Board of Supervisors.