Renewa-Beales

Infrastructure company pledges to go 100% sustainable in Tucson

Beale Infrastructure announced November 6 a major sustainability and community investment initiative for its planned data center project in Pima County’s Southeast Employment and Logistics Center (SELC). Beale is committing to match 100% of energy use at its Pima County data center with renewable energy and to invest $15 million in Pima County to support local education, workforce development, and long-term community growth.

An additional $10 million will be allocated in future phases of the project for community benefit projects identified in collaboration with Pima County leadership. These investments will be tailored to local priorities and will provide long lasting benefits for county residents, such as digital equity investments and fiber infrastructure expansions.

Beale plans to finalize the acquisition of the Pima County property at the end of the year and subsequently begin construction, marking a significant milestone for southern Arizona investment and development.

The project's initial phase is expected to bring $3.6 billion in capital investment during its multi-year construction. It is expected to generate $152 million in tax revenue over 10 years—$58.5 million for Pima County and $93.5 million for the State of Arizona. The construction phase will create 3,000 jobs, prioritizing local union and trade labor, with 180 permanent data center campus jobs to be established by 2029. The data center will use an air-cooled design, which will consume no water for cooling. Water from an Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) approved source will be used to supply domestic needs, including bathrooms, as well as fire suppression systems.

"Beale Infrastructure’s commitments to renewable energy and additional community investments demonstrate how economic development projects benefit our community beyond the billions in capital investment and job creation the company has already pledged,” said Joe Snell, president & CEO of The Chamber of Southern Arizona. “Beale’s focus on identifying community benefits projects, such as those supporting STEM education and trade school training, will further regional efforts to strengthen the talent ecosystem in Pima County and boost our regional competitiveness.”

Union leaders expressed support for the project’s commitment to hiring local workers.

“Beale Infrastructure’s data center project will create thousands of critical, good-paying construction jobs with benefits vital to working families in southern Arizona,” said Michael S. Dea with LiUNA Local 1184. “The apprenticeship opportunities present real-world training experiences for those coming up in the ranks in our industry. These benefits will strengthen the surrounding communities for years to come.

"This project will create a strong pipeline of long-term, good-paying jobs for Apprentice and Journeyman Union Carpenters in Southern Arizona,” stated Fabian Sandez with the Western States Carpenter Union and president of Local 1912. “A project of this scale demands precision, skill, and safety—qualities that trained union carpenters bring to every job. This project represents an opportunity to build the future of southern Arizona, raising the standard of living for families through stable jobs, fair wages, and quality benefits that come with a career as a union carpenter."