Project 48 Arizona Launched Billboard Campaign
The nonprofit initiative aims to highlight the economic impact of state data centers amid public concern.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Data Centers
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Project 48 Arizona has launched a billboard campaign and a new online dashboard to showcase the economic benefits of data centers. The group seeks to address ongoing public criticism regarding the high water and electricity usage required by these facilities.
Why it matters
The campaign arrives as 57% of registered Arizona voters oppose further large-scale data center construction due to concerns about resource consumption. Project 48 aims to counter this opposition by highlighting that data centers contributed over $1 billion in tax revenue in 2024.
Data centers accounted for 0.15% of annual water use in Arizona. Facilities also generated over $1 billion in state and local tax revenue throughout 2024.
The players
Project 48 Arizona
This is a nonprofit organization that seeks to influence public perception of data center development in the state.
Josh Heywood
He is a founder of Project 48 Arizona who is helping lead the organization's public outreach efforts.
Stephen Richer
He is a founder of Project 48 Arizona who is involved in the group's campaign to educate voters about data centers.
Noble Predictive Insights
This is a research firm that conducted the poll detailing voter sentiment regarding data center construction.
The details
Founded by Josh Heywood and Stephen Richer, Project 48 Arizona claims its efforts are self-funded and independent of the data center industry. In addition to billboards, the group has established a public information hotline to respond to resident inquiries regarding resource impact and economic development.
Timeline
Data centers provided over $1 billion in tax revenue in 2024.
Project 48 launched the billboard campaign in September 2026.
The Tech Race
This initiative follows the pattern set by the 2024 Noble Predictive Insights polling on Arizona data center sentiment. It highlights the growing tension between rapid digital infrastructure expansion and the conservation of limited regional resources.
Residents may notice new billboard signage throughout the state detailing the economic contributions of local facilities. The public can also access the group's new online dashboard or contact the hotline to learn more about how data centers influence their local communities.
The takeaway
The campaign highlights the difficulty of balancing large-scale industrial investment with concerns over local water and power usage. Residents should evaluate these economic claims alongside regional utility data when considering their own stance on future construction projects.
Further reading
Learn more about the infrastructure landscape in the Data Centers section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by abc15 Arizona.
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