Controversy Arises Over Page’s Data Center Project
Behind closed doors, discussions about a significant data center project in Page, Arizona, were brewing long before the public knew about it. This revelation has sparked considerable debate within the community.
Internal communications between city officials and Hollybrook, a developer based in the United Kingdom, were brought to light through a public records request submitted by KNAU. These emails reveal that talks about establishing a 1-gigawatt data center commenced as early as December 2024, preceding the proposal for selling 500 acres of city land, which only surfaced during an August city council meeting.
By January of the following year, multiple city officials had already signed non-disclosure agreements with Hollybrook, as indicated by the emails. This information came to public attention after Hunter Kennedy, a local researcher, requested these communications and shared them on social media, prompting a wave of concern among residents.
The main worry among locals is the potential energy and water consumption of the data center, and they feel the emails indicate a lack of transparency from city officials. Despite these concerns, city officials emphasize their dedication to transparency and have outlined the project’s development timeline.
Efforts by citizens to halt the land sale for the data center have been paused due to paperwork errors.
In a recent statement, Page officials clarified, “The emails released as part of the public records request reflect early discussions and estimates that are subject to change as the project advances, not information that was protected under the NDA. The City of Page remains committed to transparency, accuracy, and adherence to state law.”
In October, the City Council sanctioned the sale of the land to Hollybrook for $7 million. Officials assure that residents will have a chance to voice their opinions during a rezoning process scheduled for later this year.
Unveiling the Emails
The public records request by KNAU unearthed more than 400 pages of email exchanges involving City of Page officials about the prospective data center. Many emails contained public objections directed at the council members. However, it was evident from some emails that city officials had been in dialogue with Hollybrook well before the project was unveiled to the public.
Attached to the records are 25 pages detailing these communications.
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