WHY IS LIFE SO HARD?Data-center field guide
Arizona facility dossier · sources checked 2026-11-08

Project Blue — Tucson

Tucson adopted its first regulations for large-scale data centers on August 5, 2026, by a 6-1 vote, effective September 4, 2026. Project Blue, a separate data-center proposal tied to a Tucson Electric Power contract that the Arizona Corporation Commission's vice chair opposed, is documented here only in part: the city's motion on it could not be retrieved.

At a glance

Jurisdiction
City of Tucson, Arizona
Regulation
Large-scale data-center rules, adopted August 5, 2026 (6-1)
Effective
September 4, 2026
Project Blue
Earlier city motion not retrieved

What the sources establish

  • On August 5, 2026, Tucson's Mayor and Council adopted regulations for large-scale data centers by a 6-1 vote, effective September 4, 2026. [1]
  • The rules set a review path through existing PAD and PCD zoning, enhanced separation from homes and sensitive uses, sound studies and noise limits, water and power adequacy, and disclosure of the energy mix. [1]
  • The Arizona Corporation Commission's Vice Chair cast the lone dissent on a Tucson Electric Power contract tied to Project Blue, saying it did not protect ratepayers enough. [2]

Timeline

  1. 2026-08-05 — Tucson adopts large-scale data-center regulations (6-1).
  2. 2026-09-04 — Regulations take effect.

Conflicts and corrections

An earlier draft said the council declined Project Blue in August 2025. The city motion PDF was not retrievable, so this is not confirmed here.

What this page does not establish

  • The council's August 2025 action on Project Blue (not retrieved).
  • Project Blue's megawatts, site and status.
  • Whether the new rules apply to Project Blue.

What to check next

  1. Get the August 2025 council motion on Project Blue.
  2. Read the adopted regulations against Project Blue's location and size.
  3. Check the Tucson Electric Power contract's approval record.