Overview
- The Pinal County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to deny rezoning for the La Osa site, effectively killing the proposed data center after hours of public comment and heavy turnout.
- Residents who spoke at the hearings cited groundwater depletion, noise, air quality, wildlife and falling property values as reasons to oppose the project.
- The developer, Vermaland, had reduced the original plan from 59 buildings to 11, offered limits on water and power use and proposed dedicating nearly 1,000 acres to open space.
- Vermaland also proposed on-site natural gas generation and large energy purchases to meet demand, while some construction unions and a local fire chief supported the project for jobs and emergency-response benefits.
- Local leaders and residents now want clearer county rules for data centers on zoning, enforceable water caps and energy sourcing, a demand that reflects growing statewide concern about how much water and power these facilities can require.