Tucson sets rules for large-scale data centers
The Tucson City Council has passed new regulations for large-scale data centers, defining them by size and power consumption and setting rules for setbacks, building heights, and water usage. The city will review the ordinance in a year and research the possibility of banning data centers, a measure advocated by some residents.
Tucson City Council recently enacted a series of regulations governing future large-scale data centers, nearly a year after the city rejected annexing the "project blue data center." These new rules define a large-scale data center as facilities exceeding 25,000 square feet or consuming more than 20 megawatts of power. The regulations mandate that data centers must be at least half a mile from residential or educational land uses and limit building heights to 50 feet. Any development request will undergo a multi-step process, including a neighborhood meeting and final approval from the city council and mayor.
A key aspect of the new ordinance addresses water usage: applicants not already subject to the city's large water user limitations are prohibited from using drinking water for cooling. Developers must also demonstrate access to an adequate energy supply and detail their energy mix. Public sentiment at the council meeting was divided, with many residents advocating for even stricter measures, including an outright ban on data centers.
While the council did not implement a ban at this time, it plans to review the ordinance in a minimum of one year and research the possibility of future bans on large-scale data centers. As one speaker noted, without these ordinances, the city would have no regulatory framework in place for such developments.