Boom or Bust? How data centers are testing Arizona’s limits

Arizona has become one of the nation’s biggest data center hubs — the so‑called “Silicon Desert.” Cheap land, excess power, and generous tax breaks helped draw in some of the world’s largest tech companies. But now, as AI drives explosive demand for computing power, communities are fighting back. In this episode of the Arizona’s Family Investigates podcast, we unpack how Arizona wound up with roughly 160 data centers, why state leaders are pausing key tax incentives, and what Attorney General Kris Mayes wants to do next.