Arizona City Rejects Data Center After Lobbying Push

Chandler, Arizona unanimously rejected a proposed AI data center despite heavy lobbying from Big Tech interests and former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema. Politico reports: The Chandler City Council last night voted down a request by a New York developer to rezone land to build a data center and business complex. The local battle escalated in October after Sinema showed up at a planning commission meeting to offer public comment warning officials in her home state that federal authority may soon stomp on local regulations. 'Chandler right now has the opportunity to determine how and when these new, innovative AI data centers will be built,' she told local officials. 'When federal preemption comes, we'll no longer have that privilege.'

Explaining her no vote, Chandler Vice Mayor Christine Ellis said that she had long framed her decision about the local benefits rather than the national push to build AI. She recalled a meeting with Sinema where she asked point-blank, 'what's in it for Chandler?' 'If you can't show me what's in it for Chandler, then we are not having a conversation,' Ellis said before voting against the project.

The project, along with Sinema's involvement, attracted significant community opposition, with speakers raising concerns about whether the project would use too much water or raise power prices. Residents packed the council chambers, with many holding up signs reading 'No More Data Centers.' According to the city's planning office, more than 200 comments were filed against the proposal compared to just eight in favor.

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