Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) signed a budget bill that imposes a three-year moratorium on new sales tax breaks for data centers, among the most restrictive state-level responses to an industry under fire from residents concerned about energy and water consumption.
Data centers deserve zero tax breaks. They’re flush with investor cash and should be forced to pay for any additional infrastructure costs to power and cool themselves.
More than that, they should require an environmental bond and community improvements, and a 50 year water management plan. They should be treated in the same way as a strip mine.
Data centers deserve zero tax breaks. They’re flush with investor cash and should be forced to pay for any additional infrastructure costs to power and cool themselves.
More than that, they should require an environmental bond and community improvements, and a 50 year water management plan. They should be treated in the same way as a strip mine.
And requirements to pay for any power infrastructure improvements needed to facilitate their build and operation.
All of which should be unable to be waived, by law.