Arizona deserves the truth about data centers

Russ Walker, Vice President of Policy for the Joseph Rainey Center for Public Policy, writes in a guest commentary that Arizona communities are being misled about the true impact of data centers. He asserts that concerns regarding water supply, electricity costs, and quality of life are valid but are being met with misinformation, leading to a distorted public perception. A national survey conducted by the Rainey Center indicates that only 29% of American voters currently view data centers favorably.

However, Walker highlights that this opposition is not deeply entrenched. The survey found that public support for data centers significantly increases when voters are provided with accurate facts. For instance, learning about water recycling in modern data centers resulted in a net 31-point shift in support, while understanding that data centers spur grid infrastructure upgrades led to a 38-point increase. Similarly, support grew when voters learned that data centers often generate their own power, citing Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle, and xAI as companies committed to this under "Trump's Ratepayer Protection Pledge."

The commentary also points out the substantial property taxes paid by data centers, which benefit local schools, fire departments, and roads, leading to a 36-point rise in support when this information was shared. Furthermore, 66% of Americans support requiring mandatory community benefits agreements, local hiring, and direct payments before construction. Walker concludes that transparency and accurate information are crucial for Arizonans to make informed decisions about data center development, especially considering the national security implications of data storage.