Hundreds of residents urge Pima County supervisors to halt Project Blue land sale; board asks TEP for briefing

Hundreds of residents and community groups pressed the Pima County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to halt a planned land sale tied to Beal/Amazon’s proposed Project Blue data center, arguing the development threatens local water supplies, drives up utility costs and would worsen public-health risks from extreme heat.

Dozens of speakers packed the hearing room and overflow to oppose the land transaction. “We urge you to say no to Project Blue now,” said Lee (last name not specified), a District 2 resident, citing water and health risks. Several speakers warned of long-term infrastructure abandonment and economic risk if a data‑center buildout stalls or the industry contracts.

Why this matters: Callers said the project would consume large volumes of water and electricity and have only a limited lifespan, leaving long-term costs to local ratepayers and utilities. Supervisor Andres Cano asked county administration to invite the CEO of Tucson Electric Power to a future meeting so the board can hear directly about Project…