Toss-Up Race in Arizona's 1st Congressional District Highlights Data Center Debate
A debate between Republican Jay Feely and Democrat Amish Shah in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District highlighted their differing views on data center development. Shah raised concerns about traffic, water and electricity demand, while Feely emphasized economic opportunities and argued that local communities should decide whether to host data centers.
Republican Jay Feely and Democrat Amish Shah, candidates in a competitive race for Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, clashed over the future of data centers during a Clean Elections debate. The district includes Scottsdale and the broader Phoenix-area communities facing rapid growth and infrastructure pressures.
Shah opposed additional data centers in the area, citing traffic, water demands and the large amount of electricity they consume. Feely said data centers can bring economic benefits and support initiatives such as higher teacher pay, while arguing that communities should retain authority over whether projects are built locally. The candidates also debated Arizona tax incentives for data centers, with Shah saying conditions have changed as projected power demand has grown and Feely accusing him of hypocrisy over prior votes related to tax credits.