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

Construction is now underway on the proposed Project Blue hyper-scale data center, situated just north of the Pima County Fairgrounds in Tucson, Arizona. This development is proceeding despite significant local opposition, with protestors from the No Desert Data Center Coalition recently blocking vehicles from exiting the construction site. Coalition member Vivek Bharathan voiced profound disappointment, asserting that the project's continuation represents "rampant corruption." The coalition had previously believed the project was halted after a unanimous decision by the Tucson mayor and council. However, Bharathan stated that Tucson Electric Power (TEP) and Beale subsequently brokered a new deal, which was then approved by the state's Arizona Corporation Commission, overriding the local council's decision. Additionally, the Pima County Board of Supervisors greenlit the sale of 290 acres for the project in June, a transaction that brought nearly $21 million to the county. The completed 10-building campus is projected to employ approximately 180 individuals and is slated to open by 2028. In response to the ongoing developments and community concerns, the city of Tucson is scheduled to undertake a review of data center regulations in the coming weeks, with the aim of implementing new protective guidelines for future data center projects.