Tucson City Council poised to put new regulations around future data centers
The Tucson City Council is scheduled to vote on an ordinance that would impose strict regulations on future large-scale data centers within city limits. These regulations include prohibitions on potable water use for cooling, strict energy limits, noise controls, and specific zoning requirements. While some community groups advocate for an outright ban, the proposed ordinance represents a baseline of requirements for any approved project.
The Tucson City Council is preparing to vote on a new ordinance that would implement a series of strict regulations for future large-scale data center developments in the city. The proposed rules, which follow a year after "Project Blue" was voted down and months of community and staff discussions, mandate heightened public review for any new data center projects.
Key restrictions include a ban on using potable water for cooling, stringent energy consumption limits, and a requirement that construction occur no closer than half a mile from residential areas or schools. The ordinance also outlines new noise regulations and dictates that data centers must be located in specific, Mayor and Council-approved planned areas or community developments.
Tucson City Council Member Miranda Schubert stated that passing the ordinance would establish a baseline of requirements, but each project would still need individual approval from the Mayor and Council, allowing for continued community input. Kielly Lewis, representing the No Desert Data Center Coalition, expressed her group's preference for a citywide ban on large-scale data centers but indicated a willingness to accept the proposed concessions, emphasizing the need for strict enforcement of light and low-frequency noise pollution regulations to protect local wildlife and the Sonoran Desert. The ordinance is seen by Schubert as a reflection of both stakeholder and community feedback.