The real impact of a proposed Chandler data center on water supplies is a bit fuzzy.
Those pushing for a controversial new AI data center in Chandler — a cohort that includes paid not-technically-a-lobbyist Kyrsten Sinema — have made big promises about how it would save the city water.
Razing an existing structure to make way for the new one will instantly save 12 million gallons as if flicking a switch, according to the project’s developer, New York-based firm Active Infrastructure. The data center, located at the 40-acre Price Innovation Campus near Price and Dobson roads, will also use a fancy closed-loop cooling system, significantly reducing its water consumption compared to similar facilities. As Arizona approaches a water crisis — with dwindling groundwater supplies and looming cuts to its Colorado River allotment — the pitch sounded almost too good to be true…