The following is the opinion
and analysis of the writer:
Rex Scott
I was proud and enthused to be part of the voting majority on the Board of Supervisors that approved the land acquisition agreement and rezoning that were the first steps in moving Project Blue forward.
As the Mayor and City Council prepare to consider annexation of the property and the provision of Tucson Water service, our community is learning more about not just the tremendous economic benefits of Project Blue, but how it is structured to ensure balance between economic development and environmental stewardship. The city, county and the developer know well that our people expect that we will not sacrifice or compromise when it comes to safeguarding our resources, protecting our land, or ensuring public health and safety.
Given our longstanding regional commitment to water conservation and protection, it is heartening to know that Project Blue will use only 1% of our water supply and 6% of our reclaimed (recycled) water. The $100 million the developer will spend to build infrastructure aligned with Tucson Water’s long-term plans will ensure that Project Blue has the reclaimed water it needs. It will also support water needs at the Los Reales Sustainability Campus, which currently uses approximately 100 million gallons of drinking water annually. The 18-mile reclaimed water line that is part of the infrastructure our community will gain from Project Blue will also support the future Los Reales Sports Park and prospective businesses that will seek to locate along its path because of the ability to tap into it.
Until the reclaimed water pipeline is built, Project Blue will use potable water, but any water that it uses will be exceeded by the amount it commits to replenishment projects. They will do the same for any reclaimed water they use. The developer will fund local efforts to remove PFAS (‘forever chemicals”), promote river restoration and stormwater retention, or enhance conservation structures. These are solid commitments embedded in the Development Agreement with the city. Add to that another part of the $100 million infrastructure investment we gain: a 30-acre recharge facility that will be used to further our region’s longstanding commitment to underground water storage.
When it comes to power use, Project Blue will be required to fund all upgrades to our electrical grid that are needed for its operation. It will not be up and running until it is assured that everything needed for its operation is in place, at no cost to local ratepayers. Tucson Electric Power is also planning refinements to its system that will help to protect operational reliability before Project Blue goes online.
It is fair and reasonable to have concerns about how a data center will use power and water based on what other communities have experienced. Having said that, Project Blue is being proactively designed to address those concerns up front, in both the short and long terms. Both the city and the county can point to many years of demonstrated achievement when it comes to environmental protection, especially of our resources. We have the firm intent, the solid track record and the professional capacity to demand that Project Blue be carried out as planned and promised.
In terms of economic benefits, what our community will gain is unprecedented. The $3.6 billion capital investment (and that’s just for the first phase) is the largest in county history. City, county and state governments will garner (again, for just the first phase) $250 million in additional revenue over the next 10 years. The $100 million in infrastructure the developer will fund will support future economic development and service expansion. There will be thousands of construction jobs created and numerous full-time jobs in other fields as well. The second and third phases will bring additional benefits in terms of capital infusion, revenue growth and job opportunities.
There is clearly so much we can gain from Project Blue if we insist that it be done the right way. I fervently believe in our determination and ability to preserve everything we love about our home while also making it a better place to live and work, now and in the future. Let’s move forward, both city and county, with purpose and resolve.
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