In an Election Decided by Acreage, Data Centers Are Shifting the Balance of Power

The Salt River Project (SRP), a large water and electric utility serving the Phoenix metropolitan area, has a unique governance structure where voting power is directly tied to land ownership. Due to this quirk dating back to 1903, only an estimated 1% of eligible voters typically participate in SRP elections. In recent years, clean energy and environmental groups have been working to get more renewable energy advocates elected to the SRP board. Their efforts have resulted in six such candidates winning seats. However, the influx of data centers buying up large tracts of land within the SRP service area is threatening to upend this progress. Data center developers have purchased around 500 acres of land in the SRP territory in 2024 alone. Because that land is now owned by businesses rather than individual voters, it reduces the number of votes available for the clean energy slate. Meanwhile, conservative groups like Turning Point USA have also entered the SRP race, outspending the clean energy candidates 10-to-1. The outcome of the 2026 SRP elections could have major implications for the utility's energy mix and policies, potentially favoring more fossil fuels over renewable energy investments.