Danny Seiden, president and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry, told an Axios event in Phoenix that "secrecy" is one of the biggest obstacles to winning local support for data centers, arguing that developers' lack of transparent dialogue with residents is driving opposition.
Arizona · Data Center Boom
Secrecy Is the Biggest Obstacle to the AI Data-Center Buildout
As Arizona races to become a national data-center hub, an industry leader argues that transparency and early dialogue — being a "good neighbor" — are the keys to winning over communities worried about water and power.
184
data centers in Arizona — 98 operating + 86 planned
70%
of Americans oppose data centers in their area (48% strongly)
3,000+
data centers operating nationwide, 1,500+ planned
The Water Question
Cooling is the flashpoint in the desert. Conventional cooling consumes vast volumes of scarce water — waterless designs flip that math. Annual figures, million gallons:
~56M gal
Meta, Goodyearused /yr
~138M gal
Edged, Mesa (waterless)saved /yr
Around 60 facilities near Phoenix are estimated to use more than 177 million gallons per day .
The Case For
Data centers are the "backbone" of Arizona's economy — a new pillar of jobs and investment alongside the state's traditional Five C's.
The Opposition
Water depletion, power strain, noise, falling property values and tax incentives drive resistance.
Surprise: 4,000+ signatures & 225 emails. Tucson's "Project Blue" cancelled over water, power and transparency.
Path to Community Buy-In
End the secrecy
→
Engage residents early
→
Be a "good neighbor"
Tougher utility reviews and local opposition are already slowing development in high-growth states — making transparency the industry's surest route forward.
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