Affordable housing, water resources among state issues tackled at summit
A policy summit in Arizona addressed the state's interconnected issues of housing, water management, and air quality. Experts discussed how the growth in housing and data center development exacerbates demands on water and electricity resources. Despite current efficiency, the state faces significant water supply cuts and needs substantial investment in water infrastructure.
The Morrison Institute for Public Policy at Arizona State University hosted a Housing and Water Policy Summit to tackle Arizona's complex challenges, including housing, water management, and air quality. Experts highlighted the increasing demands on water resources driven by housing growth and data center development. Data centers, important for economic growth, consume significant electricity, which in turn requires water for power generation, accounting for 3% of statewide water demand.
Discussions were informed by reports such as the "State of Housing in Arizona Report" and "From Copper, Cattle and Cotton to Chips and Cloud Computing: Large Water Uses in Central Arizona." Sarah Porter, director of the Kyl Center for Water Policy, affirmed Arizona's robust water management history, which has allowed cities like Phoenix and Tucson to meet water demands despite population increases. However, the state faces significant reductions in its Colorado River water supply, and the Greater Phoenix area is a major hub for planned data center capacity, underscoring the need for careful resource management.
Other experts addressed the urban heat island effect and air quality. Clark Miller of ASU's Center for Energy and Society noted that extreme heat is a leading cause of death in Maricopa County. Max Wilson, water resources management adviser for the city of Phoenix, outlined a $10 billion need for water resource projects and emphasized the critical importance of maximizing water reuse and developing new supplies, seeking financial support from private, state, and federal sources.