SpaceX organizes public meeting for 747-acre Cochise County data center plan

A proposed data center in rural Cochise County, Arizona, requires 6 gigawatts of power. That capacity is sufficient to supply electricity to approximately 5 million households. The project, submitted by Tombstone Resources L.L.C., covers a 747-acre parcel along US 191 near the Apache Generating Station.

Cochise County officials stated that SpaceX privately organized the public information session held Wednesday evening at Cochise Elementary. The county issued a news release clarifying that it did not host, sponsor, or facilitate the event, though elected officials and staff were present. The Sheriff’s Office assigned deputies to the site from 6 p.m. to maintain order and ensure attendee safety.

Tombstone Resources, a Georgia-based entity, described the development as including up to nine computing buildings. The site would also feature structures for battery energy storage, electrical systems, and cooling infrastructure. The developer projected the project could generate thousands of construction jobs and potentially reduce electricity costs for some local residents. Water usage figures remain undetermined because they depend on the specific cooling technology selected.

Elon Musk, founder and CEO of SpaceX, generated attention earlier this week by suggesting that cooling data centers in space would be easier than cooling them on Earth. The connection between his company and the Cochise County proposal was confirmed by the county’s description of the Wednesday night gathering.

The Wednesday session was strictly informational. A formal public hearing is scheduled for Dec. 9, where the special use application will be reviewed by the county board.

The special use application was received by the county on Nov. 2.