Large data center planned near Luke Air Force Base
Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved 'Project Baccara,' a $36 billion, two-million-square-foot data center to be built near Luke Air Force Base. The project includes a 700-megawatt natural gas power plant and electric cooling to address water and energy concerns. Despite the county's approval, some residents have raised environmental concerns, and the project is now moving into formal annexation and zoning phases with the City of Glendale.
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors recently gave its approval to "Project Baccara," a significant industrial development that includes a high-capacity data center, valued at $36 billion and spanning two million square feet. The site for this project is strategically located one mile north of Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. According to Glendale's Development Services Director Randy Huggins, the project is positioned within an industrial corridor and a high-noise contour of the Air Force base, ensuring compatibility with military operations. Huggins also noted that the development proactively addresses regional concerns about water scarcity and energy grid stability by utilizing electric cooling and an on-site, 700-megawatt natural gas power plant with jet turbine generators.
The approval from the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors was not unanimous, with Supervisor Steve Gallardo casting the sole dissenting vote. Residents have reportedly voiced concerns regarding the potential environmental and health impacts of the proposed data center and power plant. Additionally, some residents have argued that the approval process advanced without sufficient opportunity for community input prior to the Board's vote. The City of Glendale previously approved a Pre-Annexation Development Agreement, allowing the developer to seek specific city zoning designations that align with Military Compatibility Permit standards.
Project Baccara is now slated to enter formal annexation and zoning phases within the coming weeks. Huggins anticipates these processes will take approximately four to six months to complete. During this period, an impact analysis study detailing the project's alignment with the city's annexation code will be submitted, and residents will have further opportunities to provide comments and feedback.