Pinal County Delays Vote on Proposed La Osa Data Center Until August

Livestream to Board of Supervisors meeting on Wednesday, May 27

(Discussion on La Osa Data Center starts at 2:44:20)

Pinal County, AZ – After drawing significant public attention and a large turnout of residents, the Pinal County Board of Supervisors voted 3-1 on Wednesday to continue discussion and the public hearing on the proposed La Osa Energy Center until August 26.

The request for a postponement came from the project's developer, who also announced plans to significantly scale down the proposal. Originally consisting of 59 data center buildings, the revised proposal would reduce the project to 11 data center buildings.

The meeting drew approximately 174 attendees, many of whom came to voice concerns about the project's potential impacts on groundwater, energy costs, air quality, and the long-term future of the county.

Supervisor Rich Vitiello cast the lone dissenting vote, arguing that the discussion should be postponed until December rather than August.

"This isn't a left or right issue. This is a people issue," said Antonio Ramirez, Political and Policy Director for Rural Arizona Engagement. "I think today was a testament to that because at one point we had 174 people here. People here were across the political spectrum."

The Board of Supervisors is expected to resume discussion of the La Osa Energy Center proposal at its August 26 meeting.

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