Residents in Tucson, Arizona, are stepping up opposition to two major data centre projects, warning they could worsen the city’s growing water crisis amid prolonged drought and looming cuts to Colorado River supplies.
The proposed developments, collectively known as Project Blue, include a $3.6 billion facility on Tucson’s southeast edge and a $5 billion project in the nearby town of Marana. Local campaign group No Desert Data Center argues the projects would consume more water and electricity than the desert city can sustainably provide.
Campaigners say Tucson is already facing the effects of a decades-long drought, while water flows from the Colorado River have declined by about 20 percent since 2000 due to climate change, reduced snowpack and rising temperatures. Arizona could face water supply cuts of up to 77 percent, increasing concerns over future availability.
“We say ‘Not One Drop’ for data centres,” said local resident Marisol Herrera, who joined the campaign over fears the projects would strain limited water resources.
The proposed sites would make Project Blue one of Tucson’s largest consumers of water and electricity. Beale Infrastructure, the company behind the development, has requested the city acquire nearly 290 acres of land for the project but has not publicly responded to concerns.
The issue has drawn significant public attention, with hundreds of residents attending city council meetings to oppose the developments, highlighting growing tensions between AI infrastructure expansion and environmental sustainability.
