Arizona Congressional Candidate Amish Shah Faces Scrutiny Over Data Center Record
The article examines Arizona congressional candidate Amish Shah’s opposing campaign rhetoric about data centers, contrasting it with his prior votes as a state legislator that expanded tax benefits for data center development. It also highlights concerns about water use amid Arizona’s drought and describes Republican opponent Jay Feely’s support for development with conditions on power and reclaimed water.
Arizona congressional candidate Amish Shah is campaigning against additional data center construction in the 1st Congressional District, citing Arizona’s water shortages and prolonged drought. His campaign says he supports technology development but opposes placing data centers in the desert and has criticized Republican opponent Jay Feely for supporting further expansion.
The article contrasts Shah’s current position with his legislative record. As a state lawmaker, Shah voted for House Bill 2649 in 2021 and Senate Bill 1274 in 2023, measures that expanded or removed limits on tax benefits for data centers. The incentives helped attract developers to Arizona, where more than 100 data centers operate and roughly 60 additional facilities are planned or under construction. Feely supports data center development provided facilities pay for their own electricity and use reclaimed water in closed-loop systems.