By Roland Murphy | AZBEX
By the time you read this column, Mohave County may have joined the ranks of Arizona public bodies looking to restrict data center development in its jurisdiction.
As we have previously reported, the cities of Chandler, Phoenix and Mesa have all restricted data center zoning options, and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego has called for the Arizona State Legislature to eliminate development incentives for the burgeoning Industrial subsector, calling them “antiquated.” (AZBEX: June 10, June 18)
While Gallego and others have expressed concerns about a modest count of permanent jobs and impacts on “walkability” and neighborhood character—even though the land requirements for high-volume data centers mean they rarely directly abut residential areas—the primary opposition has mostly been pointed toward environmental concerns, particularly data centers’ water and electricity requirements and the ability of utility providers to meet them.
