By Tony Davis
While the developer of Project Blue has made it clear it still wants to buy energy from Tucson Electric Power despite defeat at the hands of the Tucson City Council, its path to finding water for its planned data-center complexes is much more hazy.
Project Blue developer Beale Infrastructure has declined to answer questions from reporters or public officials about where it intends to get water for its first data-center complex, planned for 290 acres on the far southeast side near the Pima County Fairgrounds. Pima County Supervisor Matt Heinz, a supporter of the project, said he was told “stay tuned” upon asking Beale officials about their expected water supply.
Beale had previously proposed to the City of Tucson and county officials to have drinking-quality water delivered to the site for its first two years of operation, followed by reclaimed water delivered there by an 18-mile pipeline for which the company promised to pay the construction cost. It had also promised the project would be “water positive,” meaning it would offset the data centers’ water use by helping other users conserve or by buying additional supplies or water rights.
