A data center and power plant project that its developer values at more than $10 billion is one vote away from approval in Glendale.
Glendale's Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of Project Eagle, formerly called Baccara, sending the controversial rezoning to the City Council, ABC15 reported. The council is expected to vote at its Oct. 27 meeting.
What's planned
The project covers 160 acres near Luke Air Force Base, according to ABC15. It includes:
- Three one-story data center buildings totaling a little over 1 million square feet
- A natural gas power plant known as Project Baccara, with 18 gas turbines
- An APS substation
The developer's attorney said the project represents an investment of more than $10 billion. He said construction could begin this year, with build-out taking about five years.
How the vote went
The commission first voted down a motion to deny the rezoning. It then approved a motion recommending approval with 11 conditions from the city staff report, ABC15 reported. Commissioner Hooper voted no on both motions, citing the state's water cuts.
Vice Chair Cole, who made the motion to approve, said the commission's job is to decide whether the project meets the law, the general plan and zoning rules, not to go with emotion. Several commissioners said they hope the council adds tougher conditions.
Water questions
A commissioner asked why the packet didn't include a water availability study. City staff said the site is in EPCOR's water and sewer service area, and EPCOR will remain the provider after the property is annexed into Glendale.
The developer's attorney said the water supply, or water credits, is still being finalized. He said the closed-loop cooling system would use about 25% of the water historically used on the land when it was farmed, ABC15 reported.
Neighbors and the base
Residents from Glendale, Surprise and nearby unincorporated areas packed the hearing. Opponents say they've gathered about 11,000 signatures against the project. The nearest homes are about four-tenths of a mile from the closest data center building, according to a Project Baccara representative.
Speakers raised concerns about noise, air quality, the turbines, fuel storage, fire protection and the project's closeness to Luke. A June 30 letter from the base says the development is compatible only if certain conditions are met, including on pilot visibility, air quality and fire and explosion risk.
Residents asked for wider setbacks, earthen berms, more landscaping and written proof the project meets Luke's conditions.
The developer's attorney said the project will meet Luke's requirements and that its design includes walls, landscaping and setbacks. He said the site will store 450,000 gallons of propane as backup fuel in underground tanks and won't store natural gas, which will arrive by pipeline.
Why it matters for contractors
If the City Council approves Project Eagle, it would be one of the biggest construction jobs in the West Valley. More than a million square feet of data center space, a gas-fired power plant with 18 turbines, a substation, underground fuel tanks, walls and landscaping add up to years of work for site, concrete, steel, electrical, mechanical and specialty contractors. The developer has talked about a five-year build-out.
The power plant side is its own kind of job, requiring industrial and utility crews that don't always work on commercial buildings.
The conditions matter, too. With 11 staff conditions already attached and commissioners asking the council for more, the final approval could add requirements on setbacks, berms, fire protection and base compatibility. Those would shape bids and schedules.
The council vote on Oct. 27 is the date to watch. Contractors interested in the work should track who the developer brings on as general contractor if the project is approved.