Wells approved for Houghton Road data center site
Two well applications for the Houghton Road data center project in Tucson, also known as 'Project Blue,' have been approved with specific usage rules, allowing for up to 31 million gallons of water per year. The developer, Beal Infrastructure, states they plan to use significantly less, while opposition groups like the No Desert Data Coalition express strong concerns about water consumption. The project is slated for full operation by 2028.
News 4 Tucson reported a new development for the Houghton Road Data Center project, formerly known as Project Blue, located on Tucson's southeast side across from the Pima County Fairgrounds. Two well applications for the site have been approved with specific usage rules, allowing the project to use a maximum of 31 million gallons of water annually for purposes such as dust control, fire suppression, and drinking. These applications were submitted earlier in the year.
Water usage has been a significant concern for opponents of the project, including members of the No Desert Data Coalition. A representative expressed devastation over the approval, stating, "This is what we have been trying to stop, and we had elected officials tell us they wouldn't use water, and clearly those elected officials were wrong and were lied to."
Beal Infrastructure, the company developing the data center, provided a statement asserting that the approved wells provide access to up to 96 acre-feet per year, but these are conservative estimates. The company stated, "We have no plans to consume the maximum allowable under the permits," and anticipates using only 15,000 to 20,000 gallons of water daily, totaling about 6.5 million gallons annually, which is significantly less than the permitted maximum. The project is expected to be fully operational by 2028.