Problems with Project Blue

• The board voted to approve the project WITHOUT an environmental or health impact assessment of this project, and we know from communities across the country that data centers like this cause air and water pollution, environmental destruction, and health problems for nearby communities.
• The corporation that will develop the data center (Beale Infrastructure) has shared very little information with the public or with the Board of Supervisors about the amount of water and energy it will consume, and many parts of the agreement were covered by a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). A newly-released development agreement (made public on July 14) has revealed several details that make the project even more shocking, including the fact that the name “Project Blue” actually refers to 2 additional planned data center sites
• We know from our neighbors in Phoenix that these giant data centers cause increases in energy demand, which residents have to pay for in rising rates. TEP has already recently proposed a 14% rate hike. Project Blue will mean an even larger increase.
• Our elected officials on the Board of Supervisors followed a process that forced them to trust a corporation with no stake in the community, putting their interests over the interests of the people they serve. Allowing this project to move forward sets a precedent for how deals benefiting private interest can bypass public oversight.

But we can stop Project Blue!

The next step for Project Blue is land annexation by the city of Tucson, which the developer needs in order to connect to city of Tucson water. The Tucson City Council will meet next for a study session on Aug 6th.