Tucson City Council adopts data center regulations in 6-1 vote
The Tucson City Council has adopted new regulations for large-scale data centers in a 6-1 vote, following a year of studies and community feedback. These regulations define data centers, mandate setbacks from residential and commercial areas, and require disclosure of energy and water usage. Despite community pleas for a moratorium on future data centers, the council approved the current set of rules.
The Tucson City Council, after a year of discussion and community input, voted 6-1 to adopt new regulations for large-scale data centers within city limits. This decision comes one year after the same council unanimously rejected the "Project Blue Data Center.
The new ordinance defines a data center as any facility exceeding 25,000 square feet or using more than 20 megawatts of power. Key regulations include a mandate for data centers to be over half a mile away from residential areas and more than 1,000 feet from commercial businesses. Additionally, facilities must show available energy supply, disclose their energy mix, and demonstrate available water supply. The ordinance also prohibits facilities not under the city's large quantity water users ordinance from using potable water.
Community members, who had provided over 1,000 comments, expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of these regulations and strongly advocated for a moratorium on future large-scale data center developments, believing such facilities do not belong in the desert due to water and energy concerns. However, the council opted to approve the regulations rather than impose a full moratorium.