PAGE, AZ (AZFamily) — People in Page are fighting back against the possibility of a $10 billion data center that could be built on the edge of their community.
The land recently sold by the city also sits adjacent to Horseshoe Bend. Locals are worried about water use in an area where it is already scarce.
Drivers headed into town can see a few things: its iconic sign, the city on the hill behind it and even Lake Powell. However, locals said the view could be replaced by a controversial land deal that would bring a $10 billion data center to Page.
Beth Henshaw works at the local elementary school in Page. She often takes her students to the recreation area at the edge of town.
“A lot of kids have memories out here of catching lizards and seeing their first snake,” Henshaw said.
The 500-acre parcel was just sold to a developer from the U.K. who wants to build a data center.
“Once it started gaining traction, I started feeling panicked, scared and sad,” Henshaw said.
City officials said the project would bring much-needed jobs and an economic boost. Henshaw disagrees, so she started a petition to stop the development.
“Within less than a week, it got more than 1,000 signatures, which is pretty impressive for a town of just over 7,000,” she said.
The land can be seen from the Horseshoe Bend parking lot and trail. Henshaw is worried the data center could impact tourism, the city’s main economic driver.
Locals are also concerned about the center’s water use, with Lake Powell about 26 percent full.
Even a medium-sized data center can use more than 100 million gallons of water per year, and large data centers can use five million gallons a day.
“We haven’t been promised anything,” said City Councilman Tom Preller. “They’re responsible for their own water supply. If they legally obtain water rights, they can pump whatever they want, and it’s not Page’s concern.”
Preller was one of two City Council members who voted against the land sale. He is a lifelong Page resident.
Preller said he opposed the project because of its size and cost.
“I think this counts as a mega project,” he said. “We should allow our citizens to vote on it and let the democratic process work.”
Henshaw argues the democratic process has failed. She gathered more than 400 signatures to get the issue on next year’s ballot.
Henshaw said city leaders threw out the citizens’ referendum because of a technicality.
“Every single signature was disqualified because the land ordinance wasn’t stapled to the paperwork and the referendum number was written on the front but not the back,” she said.
Our team reached out to the council members who voted yes and the city manager, but no one agreed to an interview.
City officials told our team the negotiated land sale includes provisions that allow the city to back out if required conditions are not met and to repurchase the land at the original price.
Henshaw said despite everything, she and other community members will continue to oppose the project.
“It doesn’t stop opposition,” Henshaw said. “Keep the conversation going and make sure voices are being heard.”
The city must go through a rezoning process to change the land’s recreational status. Henshaw said she hopes city leaders will listen to residents during that phase.
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