Pinal County board rejects massive data center project
The Pinal County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 against rezoning land for a proposed data center project developed by Vermaland, effectively killing the project. Residents raised concerns about water, air quality, noise, wildlife, and property values. The developer had previously scaled back the plan and proposed building two gas-fired power plants to meet electricity needs.
The Pinal County Board of Supervisors has rejected a significant data center project south of Eloy, Arizona, developed by Vermaland. Following several hours of public testimony from a large turnout of residents, the board voted 4-1 against rezoning the land, which was necessary for the project to proceed.
Residents, including Glenda Abercrombie and Christine Wyman from the nearby Red Rock subdivision, expressed strong opposition, citing concerns over potential impacts on water resources, air quality, noise levels, wildlife, and property values. Wyman noted that the community felt uninformed about the project until it was well underway. Vermaland had attempted to address these concerns by reducing the project's scope from 59 buildings to 11, each approximately 400,000 square feet, and by proposing two gas-fired power plants to supply electricity.
While opponents like Eirini Pajak argued against setting a "bad precedent," union members supported the project for its job creation potential. Avra Valley Fire District Fire Chief Brian Delfs also spoke in favor, highlighting the potential for improved response times, more firefighters, additional equipment, and a new station. Despite this, the board's vote effectively halted the project. Attorneys representing Vermaland declined to comment on the decision but indicated the company has other projects in Arizona.