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Yuma residents press council on proposed data centers’ water and power impacts
Summary
Residents, tribal members and public-health professionals urged the City Council to pause or scrutinize proposed data-center development, citing concerns about water use, power supply, public-health impacts and transparency. GYEDC said no permits are yet filed and a seminar for officials is planned.
The Yuma City Council heard sustained public pushback on proposed data centers during a lengthy public-comment period on April 1, 2026.
Residents asked detailed questions about water consumption, power sourcing and long-term community impacts. “This is not sustainable for our future, and I beg you to reconsider building any data centers in our community when we already have a drought,” said Katie LaForce, a Yuma resident, citing Colorado River water stresses and per‑facility water‑use figures raised during public comment.
Other speakers raised economic and ethical concerns. Lucas Stanchi said large-scale server farms often shift energy and water costs onto residents and questioned the long-term job value of such facilities. A speaker who identified as a member of the Cocopah Indian people warned of…
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