MARANA, Ariz. (KGUN) — After learning about data centers' interest in the area, the Town of Marana put an ordinance in place specifying approval requirements for data centers in the town.
The Marana town council approved the data center ordinance in December 2024.
The Tucson City Council approved an ordinance last month that will regulate large water users. High water use has been a concern raised with Project Blue by some Tucson-area residents.
Marana’s ordinance will not allow Marana Water to supply drinking water to data centers for cooling systems. Instead, developers will need to secure an alternate water source for cooling, humidity control and similar operations.
Developers are also required to have documentation from the utility provider showing that enough electrical power exists to serve the site.
There are also design requirements and noise standards, along with the need to go through a rezoning process, which would require public hearings.
“These are all things that we’re able to put in place in the ordinance to kind of put some guardrails into the conditions of these developments,” the town’s Communications Manager, Vic Hathaway, said.
She said there aren’t currently any applications for data centers submitted to the town.
Marana will be hosting three public meetings focused on data centers, growth in the town and RTA Next.
Marana Aquatic & Recreation Center – Community Room
Date: Tuesday, September 23 at 5:30 pm
Address: 13455 N Marana Main St, Marana, AZ 85653
Coyote Trail Elementary School – Cafeteria
Date: Wednesday, October 1 at 5:30 pm
Address: 8000 N Silverbell Rd, Tucson, AZ 85743
Dove Mountain CSTEM K-8 School – Cafeteria
Date: Wednesday, October 8 at 5:30 pm
Address: 5650 W Moore Rd, Marana, AZ 85658
“Understandably, a lot of questions have come to the Town of Marana; that’s why we feel like these public meetings are so important,” Hathaway said.
——
Madison Thomas joined KGUN 9 in July of 2023 as a multimedia journalist. She graduated from Arizona State University in May of 2023 with a degree in journalism and mass communication. She has lived in Arizona her entire life and grew up in Douglas. Madison is thrilled to share the stories from the community she grew up in. Share your story ideas and important issues with Madison by emailing madison.thomas@kgun9.com or by connecting on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook.
