Noise: The easy read is that Tucson blocked data centers or that Tucson caved to the industry. The Tucson City Council voted 6-1 on August 5 to adopt one of the strictest zoning frameworks for hyperscale data centers in the American Southwest, closing a yearlong process that began after the council rejected a major data center proposal in 2025. The new ordinance, which takes effect September 4, 2026, does not permit data centers anywhere in the city by right. Operators cannot use potable water for cooling unless they meet specific city water requirements and sign a formal water agreement. Proposed sites near the Pima County Fairgrounds and in Marana both sit outside Tucson city limits.