PINAL COUNTY, Ariz. — Developers of a 3,300-acre data center project in Pinal County intend to substantially scale down its size.
Read more Arizona charter school says fundraiser for the late Charlie Kirk raised $34,500
The La Osa project, located in a remote area south of Eloy, was the subject of a lengthy hearing before the Pinal County Board of Supervisors this week that included several individuals speaking out in opposition to the proposed data center.
Last November, the county board granted a preliminary approval to the La Osa project but a recent rezone request brought before the board has been delayed after the supervisors received several comments in opposition to the data center.
Those speaking in opposition expressed concerns about how La Osa could affect the surrounding desert environment.
Court Rich, an attorney representing the project, told the board that the owner wants to make the data center “smaller.”
Rich said this would result in an 80% reduction in the number of buildings, making the project a more “typical” size for data center projects.
Read more Man pleads guilty to stabbing girlfriend to death after Loop 101 car crash
“It doesn’t need to be this big,” Rich told the board during Wednesday’s hearing.
Data centers have become a contentious subject throughout Arizona due to their potential use of water and energy resources.
Development officials have told the Pinal County board the La Osa Project isn’t planning to utilize water coolant technology and will instead use alternative methods.
The board tabled the project’s rezone request and will review the matter again in August.
Read more Lawsuit accuses Peoria school district of failing to stop teacher from abusing students