Page, Arizona residents oppose proposed 1 GW data center project
Residents of Page, Arizona, are vocalizing strong opposition to a proposed 1 GW data center project after the city council approved a 500-acre land sale. Their concerns center on potential noise, light pollution, impact on tourism near Horseshoe Bend, and significant water consumption from Lake Powell and the Colorado River. City officials emphasize that while a land sale for feasibility was approved, no development, zoning, or water use approvals for the data center have been granted yet.
Residents in Page, Arizona, are actively opposing a proposed 1 GW data center, following the City Council's approval of a 500-acre land sale in October for an unnamed developer. The contentious project, slated for a site approximately two miles from Horseshoe Bend and five miles from Lake Powell, has sparked significant community pushback at city council meetings.
Key concerns raised by residents, including Shelby Statham and Michelle Zea, encompass potential noise and light pollution impacting local tourism and the visual landscape of natural landmarks. Water consumption is another major issue, with residents questioning city officials' claims of "net zero" water use for the facility, as such assurances are not formally documented in the land sale ordinance. Michelle Zea also voiced concerns about environmental studies to protect ancestral Navajo Nation lands and the Colorado River.
The City of Page, however, highlights potential benefits, such as over $10 million in annual tax revenue from electricity consumption and economic diversification beyond seasonal tourism. City leaders clarify that the project remains in its preliminary "feasibility period" under Ordinance 744-25, emphasizing that no construction, zoning, utilities, or specific development approvals, nor any agreements for municipal or Lake Powell water use, have been finalized.