ENERGY & DATA CENTER SITING

Key Questions to Address: 

1. How much energy is Arizona using currently and how does it vary seasonally? 

2. ​How is that energy need being met today (what mix of generation resources)? 

3. What are utilities’ current forecasts for future energy needs and their integrated resource plans for meeting it? How do data centers factor into that?  

4.  What is the real deal on Small Modular Reactors to power data centers?  

5. Will data center developers need to or be required to “bring their own energy” or when will they simply tie into the grid?  

6. What are data centers’ common forms of back-up generation? 

Key Questions to Address: 

1. What are the layers and sequence to permitting and approvals for energy and data center siting projects?

2. What are some common hold-ups in the process that can bog a project down?  

3. Peer discussion on experiences, tips, lessons learned, needs 

Key Questions to Address: 

1. What is the scope of an ordinance? What technical aspects should it include (setbacks, height, sound, remediation, etc.)? 

2. What are the safety and first responder readiness considerations?  

3. What standards/norms are out there to help assess reasonableness to implement and enforce?  

4. Is it good practice to change your master plan, too, to designate preferred areas for energy generation and data center projects?

Key Questions to Address: 

1. What are the basic criteria for an area to be considered for an energy generation and/or data center project?  

2. What are the developers’ priorities when selecting sites? 

3. From the developers’ point of view, what do they expect and need from county staff and officials through the feasibility and siting processes? 

4. Fact vs fiction on natural resource and workforce needs through different phases (construction, ongoing operations, remediation) 

5. When and how does the owner/operator transition happen from the developer and how are commitments assured? 

6. How do they approach community benefits and what are some examples of them on developed projects? 

Key Questions to Address: 

1. What are community benefits really? 
   How do you discern between a requirement and a benefit (e.g. first responder training, taxes)? 

2. When do they get negotiated in the process?  

3. What does “a good deal” look like?

4. What form can they take besides general business philanthropy? 

5. Is there a way to renegotiate these benefits over the life of a project?  

Key Questions to Address: 

1. Should we revisit any policies re: transparency? (e.g. some communities are prohibiting NDAs) 

2. How can staff best prepare for the volume and intensity of the input across channels (social media, traditional media, letters/emails, public meetings, calls, FOIA requests, etc.)? 

3. How should volunteer Planning & Zoning commissioners be prepared and supported?  

4. How can broad and inclusive input be collected and considered? 

5. What should the developer be expected to do in the process?  

Key Questions to Address: 

1. How do you manage other day-to-day work and projects when a particular project gains massive public attention/opposition? 

2. What are early warning signs that a process is “derailing” (e.g. bogging down at a certain step or public cries for moratoriums on permits, etc.)?  

3. What are tips and suggestions for how to get a project back on track in the process? 

4. What should a county expect for the staff capacity and time frame to get a new ordinance or master plan updates in place?  

5. Is a moratorium on new permits a good idea and what are the legal or other considerations? 

6. Are there tips for streamlining the number of iterations or cycles through P&Z Commission and supervisor reviews/votes without compromising public input?

The final session will be a half-day, in-person workshop to integrate the learnings and collaborate with peers on priorities, strategies and next steps in each county. Ongoing references and resources will be shared as well for counties to tap as needed.