Phoenix City Council Approves New Zoning for Data Centers

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New zoning regulations for data centers in Phoenix aim to mitigate environmental impacts.

News Summary

The Phoenix City Council has approved new zoning and design regulations for data centers to address safety and environmental concerns. The decision highlights the significant water and electricity consumption of these facilities, which have raised alarms among firefighters and residents alike. The new regulations restrict construction near residential areas and aim to secure energy supply agreements as the city grapples with increasing industrial development linked to digital data processing and artificial intelligence advancements.

Phoenix – The Phoenix City Council has unanimously approved new zoning and design regulations for data centers in response to growing safety and environmental concerns. This landmark decision follows the analysis of significant data center land usage, which poses challenges to the city’s infrastructure and neighborhoods.

The regulations were put in place due to rising alarm from both firefighters and residents regarding the impact of these sprawling facilities. Mayor Kate Gallego and the council emphasized the need for these guidelines as industrial development in the Valley accelerates, particularly due to the surging demand for digital data processing and storage linked to advancements in artificial intelligence.

Data centers require vast amounts of resources, consuming between 100,000 to 1 million gallons of water daily. This level of consumption is equivalent to the annual water usage of approximately 8,000 homes. Furthermore, these facilities exert substantial pressure on the local electrical grid; existing data centers in Phoenix consume around 2,000 megawatts of electricity, while new projects are anticipated to increase this demand by an additional 3,000 megawatts.

Environmental and Safety Implications

The emergence of data centers has raised a multitude of concerns regarding fire safety and environmental sustainability. Planners and local officials have pointed out the heightened challenges faced by firefighting units, especially concerning the potential fire hazards associated with lithium-ion batteries, common in data centers. Such fires can produce toxic smoke and pose chemical risks, complicating emergency response operations.

One of the newly approved regulations includes clauses aimed at ensuring power grid capacity agreements, which are intended to secure sufficient energy supply for these large operations. Additionally, the zoning rules restrict construction of data centers within 300 feet of residential areas, particularly in zones with high ambient noise levels, and within 2,640 feet of high-capacity transit stations.

Changes to Proposed Regulations

The approval process also saw adjustments, including the elimination of a requirement for a long-term service letter from local electric utilities and removing the alignment with the city’s Green Construction Code. These changes reflect a compromise amid differing views expressed by the city’s Planning Commission and several village planning committees.

Public comments during the discussions highlighted concerns about the environmental impact and the health risks associated with data center operations, particularly regarding noise pollution from cooling systems and servers. Such considerations significantly influenced the council’s decision to implement stricter regulations.

Increasing Size and Impact

The size of recent data center constructions is notable, with a data center built in 2023 occupying 80 acres and necessitating its own electrical substation. In contrast, a similar facility constructed in 2010 occupied only 6.9 acres. Such vast expansions have contributed to the complexities in managing these developments alongside existing community needs.

Urban planning experts in Phoenix are now focusing on ensuring future land use prioritizes projects that contribute significantly to job creation and affordable housing, moving away from massive, low-job-density facilities like data centers. To this end, Mayor Gallego has suggested eliminating state tax incentives for data centers to lessen their resource impact and preserve community health.

Conclusion

The approval of the new zoning regulations marks a critical step in addressing the challenges posed by the rapid proliferation of data centers in Phoenix. While the regulations seek to mitigate adverse effects on neighborhoods and the environment, the ongoing demand for these facilities underscores the need for a balance between technological advancement and community welfare.