Phoenix
The utilities are saying no in writing. APS made no new commitments for nearly three years, and SRP quotes 5 to 8 years for transmission. Phoenix capacity is now about who already holds power. Anyone new should look at behind-the-meter power or other markets.
C&W: one of six global markets with over 1 GW under construction [Cushman & Wakefield, 2026 Global Data Center Market Comparison (Americas rankings) (2026-05); F&L Asia: Global data centre market enters managed growth phase (C&W 2026 figures) (2026-05)]
Power and the queue
- APS has not committed to new data centers since Jan 1, 2024, citing grid constraints. [KJZZ: APS says it can't commit to new data centers because of grid constraints (2026-09-02)]
- APS IRP (Oct 30, 2026): retail sales roughly double by 2041, with peak above 14.5 GW versus a ~9.2 GW record. Large-load terms now include minimum demand, collateral, and exit fees. [Utility Dive: APS sales double by 2041, proposes extending coal use to 2038 (2026-11-04)]
- SRP says new data center transmission typically takes 5 to 8 years. [SRP: Data Centers and SRP (2026-11-05)]
- A third-party estimate shows 25.2 GW requested across 91 active requests in Maricopa County, with a 4.1-year median wait.uncertain [WattStreet: Maricopa County data center power queue (third-party estimate) (2026-11-05)]
- CBRE H1 2026: 1,069.2 MW inventory, 12.1 MW available. [CBRE press release: demand continues to outpace supply (H1 2026 market table) (2026-08)]
Notable projects owners where public
No verified public item yet. This is a gap we are working on.
Regulatory posture incentives, moratoria, zoning, water, large-load rules
- City of Phoenix (Jul 2, 2025): data centers now require a Special Permit. [City of Phoenix: zoning update for data centers (special permit) (2025-07-02)]
- HB 4168 (2026), sec. 31, per the Moratorium Nation dataset: a 3-year moratorium (Jul 1, 2026 to Jun 30, 2029) on new applications to the state data center tax program. This conflicts with the program page, which still lists applications through 2033. Unconfirmed; verify with ACA.uncertain [Moratorium Nation dataset (M. Bommarito, CC BY 4.0), current through Sep 23, 2026 (2026-09-23); Arizona Commerce Authority: Computer Data Center Program (2026-11-05)]
- Pima County adopted a 120-day moratorium (Aug 2026). Tucson rejected Project Blue. [Programs.com: Data Center Moratoriums by State tracker (2026) (2026-11-05); Moratorium Nation dataset (M. Bommarito, CC BY 4.0), current through Sep 23, 2026 (2026-09-23)]
Pending legislation and actions 0 items
None tracked.
In force / enacted 1 items
| Date | Jurisdiction | Item | Status | Impact | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-07-02 | Phoenix city | Data centers require a Special Permit Zoning update for health and safety. | in force | medium | [City of Phoenix: zoning update for data centers (special permit) (2025-07-02)] |
Pricing & supply snapshot directional
MW Desk estimate / directional range, Q4 2026
Asking-rate bands below are MW Desk directional estimates in USD per kW-month. They are rounded ranges, not quoted rates, and they go stale quickly.
- Retail colo (roughly 0–250 kW): $150–340/kW-mo
- Wholesale (roughly 250 kW–4 MW): $100–225/kW-mo
- Large / hyperscale blocks (roughly 4 MW+): $95–230/kW-mo
- Vacancy band: around 1–2% (very tight)
- Commissioned inventory (directional): ~2.1–2.6 GW
- Available power (directional): ~10–45 MW
- Under construction: ~105–195 MW
- Planned pipeline: ~5.4–6.1 GW
- Absorption: strong positive absorption
- Power / timing: Immediate powered shell is scarce; expect multi-year waits for net-new large-load service in constrained pockets.
Indicative only. Ranges are rounded and adjusted directional estimates, not quoted asking rates or a survey. Confirm with brokers and operators before acting. Source data ages quickly.
TJ field notes
Coming soon: TJ's on-the-ground notes on this market. Expect what the queue really looks like, which sites can actually get power, and what the brokers aren't saying.
Slot reserved for TJ's detailed market report.