Pinal County Residents Claim Major Victory by Defeating La Osa Data Center Proposal in 4-1 Vote

Nearly 300 people turned out as residents from across Pinal County urged supervisors to reject the massive data center project.

COOLIDGE, AZ – Pinal County residents secured a major community victory Wednesday after the Pinal County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to deny the La Osa Energy Center, stopping one of the largest proposed data center projects in Arizona from moving forward in its current form.

Community members prior to final motion and vote.

Approximately 300 people showed up for the hearing, more than 150 people submitted cards in opposition, and residents from across Pinal County delivered nearly three hours of public testimony urging supervisors to reject the proposal.

The final vote was met with cheers, hugs and tears from residents who urged county leaders to reject it.

Neighbors from across Pinal County continuously raised concerns about the project's potential impacts on water, energy infrastructure, utility costs, farmland, air quality and wildlife conservation.

Rural Arizona Engagement (RAZE) began tracking La Osa in September 2025, showing up every time, and helping residents understand what was at stake. Through one on one outreach, letters and emails to county officials, public meetings and an August community training in Eloy, that work grew into a countywide effort.

Residents all across Pinal County joined in and organized around a shared understanding that the impacts of a project this large would not stop at one community.

“RAZE identified the La Osa proposal early and showed up and analyzed everything about the project to understand what it could mean for Pinal County. These proposals can be difficult for the public to catch before major decisions are already underway, so we focused on making the information accessible and bringing residents into the process,” said Natali Fierros, Executive Director and Co-Founder of RAZE. “This victory shows that projects like this are not inevitable. When communities have the information, organize and show up together, we can stop proposals that threaten the places and resources our communities depend on.”

The La Osa proposal sought to rezone rural land for industrial use, clearing the way for massive data center infrastructure at the expense of surrounding ecosystems and rural communities.

Community opposition had been building for months. On August 12, RAZE held a community training in Eloy where residents learned more about the proposal, discussed its potential impacts, prepared public comments and learned how to participate in the Board of Supervisors process.

“This victory belongs to the people of Pinal County who kept showing up for one another,” said Antonio Ramirez, Political Director at RAZE. “Neighbors from Eloy, Coolidge, Casa Grande, Florence, Red Rock and across the county took the time to learn about this project, talk with each other and speak directly to their supervisors. They understood that what happens to our water, our land, our energy and our environment affects all of us. This community came together around a shared responsibility to protect the place they call home, and they made sure their voices could not be ignored.”

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Pinal Community members after final 4-1 vote outside hearing room.

For many residents, the concerns were deeply connected to their experiences living in Pinal County and their knowledge of the land.

Community members repeatedly raised concerns about wildlife and the proposed project's proximity to a wash used by animals that live and move throughout the area.

“I grew up in Pinal County experiencing power outages, so when residents started asking what a project of this size could mean for our energy grid, I understood where that concern was coming from,” said Malorie Martinez, RAZE Pinal County Community Organizer. “I also learned people were worried about their water, wildlife, their businesses and even their privacy. These were very real fears, and their voices, their knowledge of the land made the difference today.”

The Board rejected both zoning requests associated with La Osa by 4-1 votes.

Wednesday's decision demonstrates the power communities can have when they identify major proposals early, understand how local decisions are being made and organize before those decisions become final.

Interviews are available upon request.

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MEDIA CONTACT

Kassandra Alvarez

kassandra@raze.org

6025866816