Supervisor Thomas Galvin defends vote approving controversial West Valley data center

Maricopa County Supervisor Thomas Galvin is defending his vote to approve a key permit for Project Baccara, a controversial data center near Luke Air Force Base, arguing the site’s proximity to the military installation made it an appropriate location.

The Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 Wednesday to grant the project a military compatibility permit, allowing two data centers and a gas power plant to move forward on a 160-acre site in unincorporated Maricopa County off Olive Avenue and Litchfield Road, near Surprise and Glendale.

Galvin said the limitations on what can be built next to a military base shaped his decision.

“There’s only so many things that you can build next to a military base,” Galvin told KTAR News 92.3 FM. “You can’t build residential homes, so that’s one of the things that is in our zoning ordinance, right? So, what can you build? Well, a data center, you can build that. It’s already zoned industrial.”

Supervisor Thomas Galvin says Project Baccara data center has the military’s blessing

He emphasized that the U.S. Air Force signed off on the project.

“Importantly, the brigadier general of the Air Force base says, ‘Yes, this is appropriate,'” Galvin said.

That coordination with the military was an issue for many in opposition.

“This process prioritizes military compatibility over the safety of our residents,” Project Baccara Opposition Coalition member Lexsiri Coronado told the county board.

Addressing concerns about strain on the power grid, Galvin said the developer would generate its own electricity on site.

“It’s now what I call BYOP, bring your own power,” he said. “People are concerned when you put in a data center and you plug it in, it’s going to suck up a lot of energy. It’s going to suck a lot of power. People are concerned about energy prices, as they should be. Well, now it’s incumbent upon this data center developer to build their own power.”

The board received roughly 440 emails in opposition, and 22 residents spoke against the project at Wednesday’s meeting, ABC15 reported. Supervisor Steve Gallardo cast the lone dissenting vote.

Opponents say they plan to continue their fight as the city of Glendale moves to annex the land.

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