Why Pinal County residents are fighting proposed data center
Pinal County residents are actively opposing a proposed 3300-acre data center, the La Osa Energy Center, near Eloy, Arizona. They express concerns over groundwater usage, energy costs, air quality, and noise. The Pinal County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote on a crucial zoning change from agricultural to industrial use, which residents are urging them to deny.
Residents in Pinal County, Arizona, are vocal in their opposition to the proposed 3,300-acre La Osa Energy Center, a data center development planned near the city of Eloy and Picacho Peak. Homeowners, including Kristine Wyman, who moved to the area for its rural lifestyle, cite concerns about noise pollution, environmental impact on the desert, groundwater depletion, local energy costs, and air quality.
A representative for the developer of the La Osa Data Center acknowledged community concerns, stating that the project has been scaled back from 59 buildings to 11. They also mentioned stipulations in place to cap water and power consumption, limit sound decibel levels at the property line, and dedicate nearly 1,000 acres to open space.
The Pinal County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to hold a meeting on Wednesday morning at their administrative complex in Florence, where they are expected to vote on a proposed zoning change from agricultural to industrial use, which is necessary for the data center to proceed. Residents like Theresa Greg have been actively contacting the supervisors, urging them to reject the project.