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Beal presents Project Blue in Tucson; developers and utilities pledge 'water positivity' while residents press risks
Summary
At a July 23 public forum, Beal Infrastructure outlined Project Blue, a multibillion‑dollar data center campus near I‑10 and Houghton. Developers and Tucson Water said the project will fund an 18‑mile reclaimed water pipeline and 'replenish' 100% of consumptive use; residents raised concerns about interim potable use, stranded infrastructure risk and local impacts. Mayor and council will review the project at an Aug. 6 study session.
TUCSON — Beal Infrastructure and city and utility officials laid out plans for "Project Blue," a proposed multi‑phase data center campus near Interstate 10 and Houghton at a public forum on July 23, while residents and local groups pressed officials on water use, financial risk and public‑safety impacts.
"We will replenish over 100% of consumptive use," Beal representative said during the presentation, describing a package of measures the company and Tucson Water said would make the project "net water positive." Beal said it will finance an 18‑mile reclaimed water pipeline and a 30‑acre aquifer recharge and recreation area that the company would construct and gift to the city for ongoing operation.
The developer told attendees the initial phase would include roughly four buildings, an estimated $3.6 billion in first‑phase investment (the presentation listed about $1.2 billion for construction and $2.4 billion for equipment), and an estimated $250 million in tax revenue overall, with about $97 million to the City of Tucson during the first 10 years.
Tucson Water deputy director Scott Schladweiler…
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