Pinal County Board of Supervisors - Regular Meeting: August 26, 2026

The Pinal County Board of Supervisors held a regular meeting on August 26, 2026, which included extensive public hearings and discussions primarily focused on the proposed La Osa Energy Center, a large-scale data center and power generation project. The board reviewed zoning and rezoning requests for approximately 3,385 acres, including a change from general rural to industrial zoning with a planned overlay to allow data center use. The applicant presented detailed stipulations addressing concerns such as water usage capped at 600 acre-feet annually, closed-loop cooling systems, noise limits, and power generation capacity capped at one gigawatt. Extensive public testimony was heard, with many residents expressing opposition due to environmental, water resource, noise, and quality of life concerns, while union representatives and some landowners supported the project citing job creation and economic benefits. The board also approved several procurement-related items, including contract awards for commercial refuse and recycling services, managed IT services, and construction and facility maintenance contracts. Amendments to employee compensation plans and pay structures for county staff and the sheriff's office were approved. Additionally, the board approved a rezoning request for the Monroe Event Venue near Queen Creek. The meeting included procedural clarifications on public comment rights and concluded with a call for future strategic planning sessions.