Why It Matters
The proposed construction of a massive artificial intelligence data center in northern Arizona has sparked significant opposition from local tribal leaders concerned about water security and economic sovereignty. The dispute highlights the growing tension between rapid tech infrastructure expansion and Indigenous land rights in the American Southwest.
What Happened
Last fall, officials in Page, Arizona, approved a land sale agreement that would allow for future data center construction on a 500-acre parcel near Horseshoe Bend. Huntley LLC purchased the property for $7 million with the stated intent of building a facility capable of generating 1 gigawatt of power, as first reported by azmirror.com.
The site is located approximately one mile from Horseshoe Bend and borders the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation, which sits about five miles south of Page. In response to the sale, residents launched a petition earlier this year to halt the project. The LeChee Chapter subsequently passed a resolution formally opposing the land transaction.
Irene Whitekiller, president of the LeChee Chapter, expressed concerns regarding resource consumption. “Water is precious to us… But with a data center coming in, it’s going to take a lot,” Whitekiller told the Arizona Mirror.
Tribal Sovereignty and Economic Strategy
The opposition in Arizona reflects a broader trend among Native American tribes seeking to control how their lands are utilized by outside corporations. Ashley Leitka, director of sovereignty and self-determination at Honor the Earth and an enrolled member of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe, criticized the industry’s approach.
“These companies are really preying upon the lack of economic diversity in our tribal nations,” Leitka told the Arizona Mirror.
Tana Fitzpatrick, associate vice president of tribal relations at the University of Oklahoma and a member of the Crow Tribe, provided additional context on the challenges tribes face when negotiating with large technology firms. While some tribes are exploring partnerships through entities like Colusa Indian Energy, a tribally owned microgrid company, others have moved to restrict development entirely.
By the Numbers
500 acres — size of the parcel sold to Huntley LLC
$7 million — purchase price of the land parcel
1 gigawatt — intended capacity of the planned data center
1 mile — distance of the parcel from Horseshoe Bend
5 miles — distance south of Page where the LeChee Chapter is located
Zoom Out
The resistance in Arizona mirrors actions taken by other tribal nations across the country. In March, the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma enacted a complete moratorium on data centers. The Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma’s Business Committee declared opposition to such facilities in July, and the Cherokee Nation announced a ban on hyperscale data center development in August.
Federal policy shifts have also impacted the region. President Donald Trump issued two executive orders in July revising the boundaries of the Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs, led by director Eric Mahroum, continues to offer resources for tribal data center projects, aiming to support Indigenous-led development rather than outside corporate imposition.
What’s Next
The petition against the Page project remains active as local residents and tribal leaders continue to organize. With other tribes implementing bans or moratoriums, the outcome of this dispute could influence how future technology infrastructure projects are negotiated with Indigenous communities in the Southwest. Stakeholders will likely monitor whether the LeChee Chapter’s resolution leads to further legal or administrative challenges against Huntley LLC.