Marana data center campaign could be sign of things to come
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Opponents of a controversial data center project in Marana are looking to put the issue up for a public vote, which they say would be the first time the polarizing issue has appeared on an Arizona ballot.
Why it matters: As the explosion of data centers generates increased pushback from the public, opponents could look to put the facilities on the ballot more often in the future.
Driving the news: The No Desert Data Center Coalition and Arizonans for Responsible Development, a committee sponsored by the organized labor group Worker Power, last week submitted 2,800 signatures apiece for two rezoning issues to town officials in Marana, the groups announced.
- They need about 1,400 valid signatures for each to force a public vote on the Marana Town Council's January vote to rezone two parcels of land for a data center campus from Beale Infrastructure, the developer behind the contentious Project Blue development outside Tucson.
- The town has until next Wednesday to validate signatures.
Catch up quick: City and county decisions over rezoning for data centers have prompted heated fights as residents and other critics raise concerns over issues including energy and water use.
- The Tucson City Council last summer unanimously opposed annexing land for Project Blue and rejected a development agreement. The development later moved forward on Pima County land.
- The Chandler City Council unanimously rejected a rezoning request for a data center, despite lobbying by former U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, earning the city accolades from progressives across the country.
- Cities are increasingly regulating where data centers can locate, and Gov. Katie Hobbs is proposing the elimination of a lucrative property tax exemption.
Zoom in: Political consultant Chuck Coughlin, whose firm, HighGround, did some work for Project Blue and has been approached about potentially working for the referendum opposition campaign, told Axios he expects to see more attempts to defeat data centers at the ballot.
- "All signs are pointing to the fact that data centers will have to assume opposition and potential referral if council action needs to be taken," Democratic political consultant Stacy Pearson told Axios.
Yes, but: Unique factors aiding the Marana effort won't exist in many other data center fights.
- The town is small, so the campaign needed a relatively small number of signatures for a citizen referendum.
- Worker Power, which is experienced in referendums and other local development fights, helped collect signatures.
- And a referendum is possible only when there's a rezoning vote or other official action that can be challenged. Many data centers are located in areas with preexisting industrial zoning.
What we're watching: Still, the possibility of referendums is something that local governments may increasingly keep in mind when considering data centers policies.
- Coughlin said it could dissuade some cities from approving data centers in the first place, while Pearson said it could change developers' view of what constitutes an ideal site.
- "It very well could be county islands' time to shine here," she said.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to note that the proposed Marana data center campus is from the developer of Project Blue, but isn't part of Project Blue.