W. Valley Data Center Developer Building Massive Energy System

For data centers to make their way through the permitting process, the developer most likely will have to provide power for the project without taxing current delivery systems. Copia Power is promoting a plan to do just that in Tonopah, a town about an hour west of Phoenix.

The Phoenix Business Journal reports Copia Power, which develops, builds and operates grid-connected power and data center infrastructure, is working to rezone about 3,100 acres near Tonopah in the far West Valley for its latest project, the Belmont Energy Center.

Most of the project site – about 2,860 acres – would be for utility-scale solar energy generation, while about 320 acres would be used for a gas generation facility, BESS and data centers. The project is backed by a $1.7 billion construction loan and has a power purchase agreement with APS. It’s expected to be operational within the next year.