An Arizona bill aimed at helping counties plan for data centers and nuclear energy advanced out of committee. On Thursday, the state House Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Innovation voted 4-3 in favor of House Bill 2452.
HB 2452 amends the state's comprehensive planning laws to permit accommodations for data centers and small modular nuclear reactors. The bill prevents counties from using zoning to block data centers or SMRs from their comprehensive land-use plans.
HB 2452 says the plans need to include electric power production and demand, SMRs and data centers.
The legislation says counties with more than 125,000 people must designate land for data centers. Counties with a small population can choose not to designate land. HB 2452 also requires counties to designate land for thermal and non-thermal electric generating units, including SMRs.
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