With water cuts looming in Arizona in US, locals fight data centres
Summary
Residents in Tucson, Arizona, are fighting against two large new data centers called Project Blue because the centers would use a lot of water and electricity in an area facing severe drought and heat. The projects could bring jobs and tax money but also strain the limited water supply, which comes mostly from the already shrinking Colorado River.Key Facts
- Tucson is in a severe drought that has lasted 30 years, with water from the Colorado River dropping 20% since 2000.
- Two data center projects near Tucson, worth about $3.6 billion and $5 billion, are planned by Beale Infrastructure.
- These data centers would become the city's largest water and power users.
- Many locals oppose the project, concerned about water scarcity and rising energy use.
- Project Blue could create thousands of construction jobs and generate about $250 million in taxes over 10 years.
- Tucson Electric Power raised electricity rates by 10% in 2023 and plans another 14% hike in 2025, partly due to grid upgrades for projects like these.
- City council members face a difficult choice between economic benefits and environmental limits.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.