Pinal County’s Major Data Center Project Faces Significant Downsizing
The ambitious plan to establish Arizona’s largest data center complex is facing a substantial reduction in scale due to community pushback. Originally envisioned to spread across 3,300 acres near Eloy, the La Osa data center and energy campus by Vermaland has encountered significant resistance from local residents in Pinal County.
The initial proposal was to integrate 59 data centers, two natural gas facilities, and a large battery energy storage system, but this plan has been met with considerable opposition. During a public hearing concerning the rezoning and site planning of the Pinal County land, attorney Court Rich stated, “the owner wanted me to come here today and let you all know that he wants to make this project smaller.”
The developer is now seeking an extension to refine the project details, which will now only encompass 11 data centers with a capped energy demand of 1 gigawatt. To put this into perspective, the U.S. Energy Information Administration notes that 1 gigawatt is equivalent to the energy consumed by approximately 750,000 to 1 million homes annually.
Concerns were raised by Supervisor Rich Vitiello regarding the construction timelines of the data centers and the energy facilities. He remarked, “The gas power plant most likely sounds like it’s going to go last, and I’m hearing that it takes roughly five to seven years, that’s a concern,” further expressing worries about the potential rise in power bills for local residents.
Feedback from the community was substantial, with around 60 comments and 50 emails submitted, all opposing the project. Among the speakers was Vivek Bharathan, who traveled from Tucson to voice his apprehensions. He warned, “I come with a cautionary tale from your neighbors to the south,” referencing a similar situation in Pima County where a data center project proceeded against public objection, leading to issues such as the unlawful use of Tucson’s water.
Following deliberations on the appropriate duration for the project’s delay, the Pinal County Board of Supervisors decided to revisit Vermaland’s application at another public hearing scheduled for August 26. Supervisor Vitiello chose to abstain from the vote, citing the need for more time to address the community’s concerns.
—
Read More Arizona News
