Be Heard: Significant Data Center Needs Support at Board of Supervisors

Project Blue: Southeast Employment and Logistics Center
Support Needed for Significant Data Center Project

On June 17, 2025, the Pima County Board of Supervisors (“Board”) will hear a rezoning case that will provide significant financial and water infrastructure investment to the Tucson region. Project Blue is a proposed data center campus representing an unprecedented $3.6 billion-plus economic development opportunity for the City of Tucson and Pima County. Beyond diversifying and strengthening the tax base, Project Blue will fund major energy and reclaimed water infrastructure improvements with a commitment to water stewardship. Project Blue represents a model for how public-private partnerships can support responsible development of critical digital infrastructure by prioritizing local community needs. The Board public hearing is on Tuesday, June 17th at Board Chambers, 130 W. Congress St., 1st Floor. The Project Blue rezoning is set for a time-certain start of 11:00am.

Project Background

Project Blue is located on approximately 290-acres immediately north of the Pima County Fairgrounds within the Southeast Employment & Logistics Center, an area earmarked for development. The project is currently in unincorporated Pima County and will ultimately be annexed into the City of Tucson. The current phase of the project could support four data center buildings, with the full property potentially supporting up to ten buildings. The first building could be operational as soon as 2027.

The selected property is highly suitable for a data center campus. It is in close proximity to high voltage electrical infrastructure in an area planned for employment and industrial uses. This area is not directly adjacent to any residential neighborhoods or other sensitive uses. Project Blue will provide unprecedented potential economic benefits to the region. An independent Economic Impact Study (EIS) calculated the following potential economic benefits for the current phase of Project Blue:

~$3.6B total capital investment planned over the multi-year construction period.
~$250M in total tax revenues, with ~$97M to the City of Tucson, ~$60M to Pima County, and ~$93M to the State of Arizona over a 10-year period.
~180 new full-time, permanent jobs created by the third year of operations in 2029. These positions are on-site and include engineers, technicians, operations, and security, with an average salary of $64,000 per year.
~3,000 direct construction jobs created during the multi-year construction period anticipated to take place between 2026 - 2028.

Project Blue will be a model for sustainable and responsible water use, and its approach to water stewardship includes the following three tenets:

Water Replenishment Projects: Project Blue has committed to replenishing all consumptive water losses generated by the project. Project Blue, in partnership with Tucson Water, will provide direct investment into local water projects that have a measurable, net positive impact on water availability, quality, and accessibility within the region. The total volume of water projects funded by Project Blue will meet or exceed the consumptive water usage.
On-Site Efficiency: Project Blue will use proven cooling technology that enables industry-leading operational energy and water efficiency. The cooling system can operate solely with outside air and minimal water use during winter and shoulder months.
Reclaimed Water Use & Infrastructure: Not only is Project Blue committed to using reclaimed water, it will also fund a significant expansion of Tucson Water’s reclaimed water system, including:

An 18-mile purple pipe extension that will be over-sized in capacity, enabling Tucson Water to facilitate sustainable growth in southeast Tucson and convert existing potable water customers to non-potable sources.
A new 30-acre aquifer recharge facility that will improve system-wide supply reliability and offer recreation benefits similar to the SHARP facility.

Project Support

The Project team requests development community support for the Project by speaking at the Board public hearing on:

Tuesday, June 17, 2025, 11:00am

Board Chambers, 130 W. Congress St., 1st Floor

There are two options to speak at the Project Blue public hearing (please note this is a time-certain item to begin promptly at 11:00am):

In-Person: Please show up to the Board of Supervisors’ Chambers at 130 W. Congress St., 1st Floor, at 10:45am on June 17th. In the Chambers there will be Speaker’s Cards that you must fill out, indicating that you want to speak on Agenda Item No. 65. Once the public hearing begins, you will be called when it is your turn. Comments are limited to 3 minutes or less.

Telephonically (via Webex): If you cannot make the hearing in person, please follow one of the following steps by 4pm on Monday, June 16th to join remotely:

Email the Clerk of the Board at cob_mail@pima.gov and tell them that you want to speak on Agenda Item No. 65, P25SP00002 – Southeast Employment & Logistics Center Specific Plan; OR
Call the Clerk of the Board at (520)724-8449 and tell them that you want to speak on Agenda Item No. 65, P25SP00002 – Southeast Employment & Logistics Center Specific Plan.
The Clerk’s Office will then send you an online link that will allow you to speak at the hearing. Please make sure to download the virtual meeting app to your computer or phone prior to the meeting.
During our agenda item, the Clerk will call your name when you are ready to speak. Comments are limited to 3 minutes or less.

If you cannot speak at the hearing, your letter of support to the Board is critical and greatly appreciated. The email addresses and letter template are as follows:

Email support letters to: Clerk of the Board at cob_mail@pima.gov

Letter/email format:

Board of Supervisors
Attn: Clerk of the Board
33 N Stone Avenue
11th Floor Tucson, AZ 85701-1404

Re: Support for Case No. P25SP00002, Southeast Employment & Logistics Center Specific Plan

Dear Chair Scott and Board Members:

This letter is to express my support for the rezoning for Project Blue.

PLEASE INSERT A FEW SENTENCES IN YOUR OWN WORDS WHY YOU SUPPORT THIS REZONING.

I encourage you to approve this rezoning.

Insert Your Name & Address

If you have questions, please call Keri Silvyn or Rory Juneman at (520)207-4464.

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Thank you for any support you can provide for this important rezoning.

Rory Juneman