--- title: "Data Center: News, Information & Resource Center for Tucson" url: https://www.heretucson.com/data-center-tucson-az/ date: 2026-11-06T05:48:20-07:00 modified: 2026-11-06T05:48:20-07:00 author: "" site: "HERE Tucson" attribution: "HERE Tucson" --- # Data Center: News, Information & Resource Center for Tucson > Data centers near Tucson, AZ: who decides — zoning, city council, the N.C. Utilities Commission — plus news and official links from HERE Tucson. *Source: [HERE Tucson](https://www.heretucson.com/data-center-tucson-az/) — November 6, 2026 by * [Home](https://www.heretucson.com/)›[Politics](https://www.heretucson.com/politics-tucson-az/)›Data Center Resource CenterTucson, AZ · Politics of Data # Data Center: News, Information & Resource Center for Tucson AZ Who decides where data centers go near Tucson: the regulators, councils, planning boards and agencies with a vote, with names, contacts and the official source for each. Plus the project tracker, the tax rules and the latest reporting from HERE Tucson. **5**State regulators named**7**Local officials named**18**State legislators**0**Projects tracked[Who decides](#who-decides)[Project tracker](#project-tracker)[Incentives](#incentives)[News](#dc-news)[Tell your story](#tell-your-story)[FAQ](#dc-faq)[Sources](#sources)The Decision-Makers ## Who decides on data centers near Tucson A data center needs a yes from several bodies at once: the land-use board that rezones the site, the elected council or commission that approves incentives and agreements, the utility that sells the power, the state commission that regulates that utility, and the agencies that permit water and air. Names below come from the official pages linked on each card. State utility regulator ### Arizona Corporation Commission Five elected commissioners regulate APS, TEP and other utilities and approve resource plans. - **Nick Myers***Chairman* - **Rachel Walden***Vice Chair* - **Lea Márquez Peterson***Commissioner* - **René Lopez***Commissioner* - **Kevin Thompson***Commissioner* [Commission website](https://azcc.gov/)[Commissioner page](https://azcc.gov/news/home/2026/01/14/commissioner-nick-myers-selected-as-chairman-of-the-arizona-corporation-commission)Source: [Commissioner roster](https://azcc.gov/news/home/2026/01/14/commissioner-nick-myers-selected-as-chairman-of-the-arizona-corporation-commission)Power & water providers ### Who sells the power - **[Tucson Electric Power](https://www.tep.com/)***Investor-owned electric* Which utility serves a given site depends on its address. Large-load power contracts are negotiated with the serving utility and, for regulated utilities, approved by the state commission. City · votes on rezonings & agreements ### Tucson elected leaders - **[Regina Romero](https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Government/Mayor-Council-and-City-Manager)***Mayor of Tucson* - **[Lane Santa Cruz](https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Government/Mayor-Council-and-City-Manager)***Ward 1* - **[Paul Cunningham](https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Government/Mayor-Council-and-City-Manager)***Ward 2* - **[Kevin Dahl](https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Government/Mayor-Council-and-City-Manager)***Ward 3* - **[Nikki Lee](https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Government/Mayor-Council-and-City-Manager)***Ward 4* - **[Selina Barajas](https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Government/Mayor-Council-and-City-Manager)***Ward 5* - **[Miranda Schubert](https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Government/Mayor-Council-and-City-Manager)***Ward 6* [Council page, agendas & contacts](https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Government/Mayor-Council-and-City-Manager)Source: [Official source](https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Government/Mayor-Council-and-City-Manager)Land use ### Planning & zoning - **[City planning & zoning (official city website)](https://www.tucsonaz.gov)***See the city site for the board and meeting dates* The planning body reviews rezonings and site plans and recommends to the elected board; data center rezonings and development agreements are typically decided by the council or county commission. Recruitment & incentives ### Economic development - **[Arizona Commerce Authority](https://www.azcommerce.com/)***State recruitment and incentives* Permits ### Water, air & environment - **[Arizona Dept. of Environmental Quality](https://azdeq.gov/)***Air and water permits* State legislature · writes the data-center statutes ### Your state legislators - **[T.J. Shope](https://www.azleg.gov/House/House-member/?legislature=54&session=122&legislator=1871)***Senate 16 (R)* - **[Vince Leach](https://www.azleg.gov/senate-member/?legislature=55&legislator=1965)***Senate 17 (R)* - **[Priya Sundareshan](https://www.azleg.gov/senate-member/?legislature=56&legislator=2143)***Senate 18 (D)* - **[David Gowan](https://www.azleg.gov/senate-member/?legislature=55&legislator=1968)***Senate 19 (R)* - **[Sally Gonzales](https://www.azleg.gov/senate-member/?legislature=55&legislator=1957)***Senate 20 (D)* - **[Rosanna Gabaldón](https://www.azleg.gov/House/House-member/?legislature=54&session=122&legislator=1867)***Senate 21 (D)* - **[Teresa Martinez](https://www.azleg.gov/house-member/?legislature=55&session=123&legislator=2096)***House 16 (R)* - **[Chris Lopez](https://www.azleg.gov/house-member/?legislature=57&session=129&legislator=2364)***House 16 (R)* - **[Kevin Volk](https://www.azleg.gov/house-member/?legislature=57&session=129&legislator=2365)***House 17 (D)* - **[Rachel Keshel](https://www.azleg.gov/house-member/?legislature=56&session=127&legislator=2173)***House 17 (R)* - **[Nancy Gutierrez](https://www.azleg.gov/house-member/?legislature=56&session=127&legislator=2165)***House 18 (D)* - **[Chris Mathis](https://www.azleg.gov/house-member/?legislature=55&session=123&legislator=2103)***House 18 (D)* - **[Lupe Diaz](https://www.azleg.gov/house-member/?legislature=55&session=123&legislator=2100)***House 19 (R)* - **[Gail Griffin](https://www.azleg.gov/house-member/?legislature=55&legislator=2053)***House 19 (R)* - **[Alma Hernández](https://www.azleg.gov/house-member/?legislature=55&legislator=2033)***House 20 (D)* - **[Betty Villegas](https://www.azleg.gov/house-member/?legislature=56&session=127&legislator=2274)***House 20 (D)* [Arizona Legislature: committees & bills](https://www.azleg.gov/)District lines cut through cities; confirm your own members in the official lookup. Source: the state legislature’s member pages linked above.Project Tracker ## Data center projects near Tucson No data center campus near Tucson has a verifiable public record yet. This tracker lists only projects documented by a government filing, a company announcement, or an agency record, each linked. Developers or officials with a project to add can use the form below.Latest ## Data center news from HERE Tucson No data center stories in the last 90 days. New reporting appears here as soon as it publishes.For developers, utilities & data center companies ## Tell your story HERE Residents, council members and commissioners near Tucson are deciding what a data center means for their power bills, water and land. HERE Tucson covers those decisions every week. If you are building, powering or supplying a project in or near Tucson, this is where the people who vote on it are reading. - Sponsored features and press releases published on HERE Tucson - Interviews and community explainers about your project - Reach a local audience in the neighboring HERE cities too [Advertise with HERE City](https://www.herecity.com/advertise/)[Send a message to our team](#data-center-brief) Business inquiries are handled by HERE City Marketing. HERE Tucson · Politics of Data BriefGet the data center white paper for Tucson A plain-language briefing on who decides, what the power contracts mean for your bill, and which communities near Tucson are next. Leave your email and HERE Tucson will send it as soon as it is published. Building data centers, or organizing around them? Use the same form to get more information or to get your message out to Tucson readers. Company website I am a residentLocal official or staffDeveloper or real estateUtility or energyBusiness ownerMediaOtherSend me the white paperHelp me get my message outBoth Email me the white paper and occasional HERE Tucson updates on this issue. Unsubscribe anytime.Get the white paper / Get in touchNo spam. Industry, utility, and business inquiries go to our advertising team; everyone else joins the HERE Tucson newsletter list.Questions & Answers ## Data centers near Tucson: FAQ ### Who approves a data center near Tucson? Land use is decided locally: the planning or zoning body reviews rezonings and site plans, and the elected council or county commission votes on incentives and agreements. Power service is arranged with the local utility, and Arizona Corporation Commission regulates that utility. Water and air permits come from state environmental agencies. ### Who sits on the Arizona Corporation Commission? Nick Myers (Chairman), Rachel Walden (Vice Chair), Lea Márquez Peterson (Commissioner), René Lopez (Commissioner), Kevin Thompson (Commissioner). Source: https://azcc.gov/news/home/2026/01/14/commissioner-nick-myers-selected-as-chairman-of-the-arizona-corporation-commission. ### How can I weigh in on a data center near Tucson? Attend the planning and council or commission meetings listed above, submit written comments before the vote, and contact your elected members. For power-contract cases, Arizona Corporation Commission takes public comment on open dockets. Sources & Method ## How this page is built Every name on this page is taken from the official government page linked beside it. Anything we could not verify is left out. Last verified 2026-11-12; next check 2026-12-12. Confirm contact details with the agency before relying on them. - [Arizona Corporation Commission: chairman announcement](https://azcc.gov/news/home/2026/01/14/commissioner-nick-myers-selected-as-chairman-of-the-arizona-corporation-commission) - [City planning & zoning (official city website) (official page)](https://www.tucsonaz.gov) - [City of Tucson, Arizona: official website](https://www.tucsonaz.gov) - [HERE Tucson city-government directory (council, county, legislators)](https://www.heretucson.com/city-government/) **Not yet verified:** planning commission page and meeting schedule not located on the city site; Arizona data center incentive page; local economic development agency contacts; state energy-committee roster; planning commission members. [← Back to Tucson Politics & Government](https://www.heretucson.com/politics-tucson-az/)