The Future of Page’s Development: A Data Center at the Heart of Controversy
The Page City Council’s recent decision to sell 500 acres for a $15 million data center has sparked a debate, with some residents urging for a city-wide vote to determine its fate.
While councilmembers advocate for the project, citing potential job creation and increased revenue for the tourism-dependent city, not all residents are convinced. Concerns about environmental impacts, particularly on local water resources, have been raised by the community.
Among the concerned citizens is Beth Henshaw, who is actively campaigning for the proposal to be placed on the ballot. “We don’t want them to take water from Lake Powell or the Colorado River, which is already stressed and over-allocated,” Henshaw explains. “We don’t want the city to decide for us. We want to learn more, and we want this to be on the ballot. It’s going to affect this whole town.”
Henshaw is working to gather 303 signatures to present to the city clerk, aiming to bring the issue to a vote. However, the timeline for such a vote remains uncertain.
She acknowledges the limitations of a local vote. “LeChee is our neighbor, it’s right on the edge of city limits. Big Water residents are 15 minutes out of town, but everybody comes in, uses Page. That’s where they spend all their money, that’s their town. But they don’t get a say, they don’t get to vote,” Henshaw notes.
Data centers have a reputation for high water usage due to their cooling needs. In response, the developers, Huntley LLC, propose a “closed-loop system” to mitigate water consumption issues.
The proposed data center site is strategically located along Highway 89, just north of the popular Horseshoe Bend, within the Page city limits.
This is not the first time Page residents have challenged the council’s decisions. A voter referendum in 2026 will address a city plan to narrow Lake Powell Boulevard, demonstrating the community’s ongoing engagement in local governance.
—
Read More Arizona News
