90 Miles from Needles: the Desert Protection Podcast

S4E28: Episode 100 | Three Sonorans and Tucson's Stand Against High-Tech Ecological Threats

7 snips

Aug 9, 2025

David Morales, a journalist and creator of the "Three Sonorans" newsletter, joins the conversation to discuss Tucson's triumph against the Project Blue data center proposal. He highlights the alarming water and energy demands of this project in a drought-stricken desert, emphasizing its potential ecological impact. Morales sheds light on the community's united stand against exploitative practices, connecting historical injustices to contemporary environmental challenges. His insights promote awareness of local advocacy and the importance of sustainable policies that honor indigenous rights.

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INSIGHT

Project Blue's Massive Resource Demand

David Morales says Project Blue would use more electricity than every person in Tucson.
He warns it would also use as much water as a small city and strain desert resources.

INSIGHT

Water And Energy Are Tightly Linked

David Morales links Colorado River cuts and long water pumping to major energy use in the desert.
He traces power choices from coal to natural gas and highlights the environmental costs of fueling water transport.

INSIGHT

Tax Breaks Drove The Location Choice

David Morales ties Project Blue's Tucson location to Arizona's 2013 tax incentives for data centers.
He argues those incentives, not local resource suitability, mainly attracted the project.

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Episode Summary:

In this chapter of the landmark 100th episode of the "90 Miles from Needles" podcast, journalist David Morales, known for his insightful "Three Sonorans" newsletter, joins the discussion to unravel the complexities behind this development and how a community united to challenge a potentially devastating project.

The episode highlights how Project Blue, backed by Amazon Web Services, planned to establish a massive data center in Tucson, Arizona. This project raised alarm due to its anticipated consumption of scarce desert resources, including water and energy. Community activists scrutinized the implications of this center, revealing its environmental impact and the economic motivations linked to enticing tax exemptions.

Morales passionately articulates the broader significance of this victory and how it exemplifies a stand against exploitative initiatives pushing the limits of desert environments. The episode educates listeners on the historical connections of resource extraction in Arizona, the racial aspects of environmental degradation, and the importance of thoughtful modern policies that respect both indigenous heritage and future sustainability. With phrases like "manifest destiny" still ringing true in new forms today, this episode serves as an inspiring example of local advocacy effecting meaningful change.

Key Takeaways:

Project Blue's proposed data center in Tucson faced significant opposition due to excessive water and energy demands in a desert region.
The initiative exemplifies environmental racism and reflects historical patterns of extraction and exploitation in Arizona.
Community activism was pivotal in stopping the project, showing the power of collective action in confronting large corporations like Amazon.
Kevin Dahl, a Tucson City Council member, took a hard oppositional stance that contributed to the council's unanimous decision to halt the project.
The "Three Sonorans" newsletter provides valuable insights into indigenous and progressive perspectives on environmental issues in Tucson.

Notable Quotes:

"Now's your chance today. Stopping Project Blue is your way of stopping manifest destiny today."
"It's all connected because you have energy, you have coal, you have water."
"You have to know the history. You have to know all of it together."
"They were trying to build this out here because our last governor passed this bill in 2013 to give huge tax incentives to data centers."

Resources:

David Morales’ "Three Sonorans" Newsletter: https://threesonorans.substack.com

Arizona Luminaria: Coverage on the public records request that revealed Amazon's involvement: https://azluminaria.org/2025/07/21/amazon-web-services-is-company-behind-tucsons-project-blue-according-to-2023-county-memo/

Become a desert defender!: https://90milesfromneedles.com/donate

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