Tucson’s Planning Commission is debating tighter rules around data center development. If passed, these would apply to any planned data center project that is larger than 25,000 square feet or exceeds 20 megawatts of energy demand.
The city was prompted to create a specific zoning code given the public’s overwhelming rejection last fall of Project Blue, a massive data center in development 20 miles east of Tucson city limits in unincorporated Pima County. Project Blue’s energy demand is expected to be 500 to 700 megawatts. It will cover 13 million square feet.
City staff has been gathering feedback on proposed development standards from the public, mayor and council for months…