COCHISE — A proposed AI data center in rural Cochise County could be one of the biggest in the country by power demand, and residents are split, 13 News reported.
SpaceX hosted a community meeting Wednesday evening at Cochise Elementary School about the project, according to the station.
The project would cover about 747 acres near the Apache Generating Station along U.S. Highway 191 and include nine data center buildings for artificial intelligence work.
A special use application filed with Cochise County lists Tombstone Resources LLC as the applicant and says the site would need up to 6,000 megawatts, or 6 gigawatts, of electricity at full build-out. The relationship between SpaceX and Tombstone Resources is unclear, 13 News reported.
The applicant says the project could create thousands of construction jobs and potentially lower electricity bills. The application calls for a dry-cooling system to reduce water use.
“We need AI centers. It’s the future,” said resident Herald Satterlee. Another attendee, Michael Gregory, said, “We don’t know enough, therefore just say no.” Residents raised questions about water, wildlife and noise.
Jason Bowling, CEO of Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative, said both the excitement and the concerns are valid.
The Cochise County Planning and Zoning Commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing Dec. 9. SpaceX did not make anyone available for comment, 13 News reported.
Sources: 13 News via AZFamily. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: West Coast Art Co. / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
