Arizona just approved a massive data center near an Air Force base. Neighbors are furious -

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors in Arizona recently voted 4-1 to approve a special military compatibility permit for "Project Baccara," a $36 billion data center campus near the city of Surprise. This approval allows developers to proceed with construction despite significant community backlash and concerns from Luke Air Force Base officials. Residents, including long-time local April Butler, voiced strong opposition during a three-hour meeting, citing potential impacts on air quality, water resources, and public health, especially given the proximity to homes and the Air Force base's accident potential zone. Over 8,000 signatures were collected on a Change.org petition against the project, and 553 emails were sent to the county. The proposed development includes two data centers and a natural gas power plant located about 400 feet from residential areas. Tom Ellsworth, director of the Maricopa County Planning and Development Department, outlined the project's scope. The Department of the Air Force expressed concerns about the project's compatibility with the high noise and accident potential zones of Luke Air Force Base, suggesting mitigation measures for the gas plant. Ed Bull, a lawyer for Project Baccara, assured the board that the company's CEO had accepted all of the Air Force's conditions. Supervisor Steve Gallardo cast the lone dissenting vote, echoing community and Air Force concerns about military compatibility and worsening air quality in Maricopa County, which already ranks among the most polluted in the country. Residents like Hollie Tolmachoff and Beth Mortensen highlighted fears about the large propane storage, environmental degradation, and the state's growing water crisis, arguing that the community's concerns were dismissed. The project, located in unincorporated Maricopa County, had previously cleared an environmental compatibility hurdle with the Arizona Corporation Commission. Construction is slated for the third quarter of 2026, pending EPA air quality approval, with buildings coming online in 2028 and 2030, reinforcing Arizona's emerging role as a national data center hub.