Project Blue conversations continue | Top Stories

Tucsonan Leslie Clausen Gonzales argues the Sonoran Desert is not the place for Project Blue, the proposed massive data center near Houghton Rd. and I-10, north of the Pima County Fairgrounds.

Gonzales worries about water.

“My concern is we’re going to run out of water,” she said. “We live in the desert. For the last 25 years of my life, the desert has been in an extreme drought.”

Representatives with Project Blue developer Beale Infrastructure spent part of Thursday night trying to reassure homeowners the project will use a majority of reclaimed water through an 18-mile pipeline.

However, the first two years will be potable drinking water.

“We will replenish over 100% of consumptive use both while we are using potable for the two years we will be building the reclaimed water line for the first phase as well as once we’re using the water,” attorney Keri Sylvin said.

“”During the winter months and any months where there’s low demand on the system, the reclaimed water is going into the aquafer recharge facility and storing in like an underground reservoir,” Beale Infrastructure Water Director Christina Casler said . “Then, during periods of use, there will be wells that will tap into the reservoir and deliver water to the facilities all through the reclaimed water system. “

Tucson City Councilwoman Karin Uhlich has many more questions than answers right now.

“If the reclaimed water pipeline, for whatever reason is delayed, the implication is more years of potable water, drinking water and fines, whether it’s half a million dollars or not, aren’t the same as the loss of drinking water in this valley,” Uhlich said.

Project Blue could mean $3.6 billion in economic development, a few thousand construction jobs and potentially 180 permanent jobs on site once the data center is complete.

“It is absolutely our intent to hire local talent both for the construction phase and for ongoing operations,” Beale Infrastructure Development Director Arnaud Dusser said. “Hiring locally just makes sense. It reduces travel, relocation costs.”

Uhlich along with her colleagues on the Tucson City Council will ultimately decide whether Project Blue moves forward.

She tells News 4 Tucson’s Eric Fink she is a ‘NO’ on the project right now.

“We will not sell ourselves short,” Uhlich said. “And, you know, this notion that we’re not good for business is not true but we do reject bad business propositions and we should always do that.”

In order for consideration of Project Blue to move forward in the Old Pueblo, the council would have to vote to annex the land into the city. A vote on annexation could come as early as Aug. 19.

Four votes are needed among Mayor Regina Romero and council members to begin the annexation process and continue discussion.

There will be a second in-person public meeting on Project Blue Monday Aug. 4 beginning at 5 p.m. at the Tucson Convention Center.

City Council is slated to focus on Project Blue in a study session Aug. 6.