By @azcentral
Publication Date: 2026-02-02 11:01:00
Updated Feb. 2, 2026, 6:37 a.m. MT
Data centers are easy to love — or despise:Why they’re so divisive
Megan Mendoza/The Republic

The Meta data center in Mesa, photographed on Jan. 6, 2026.
Megan Mendoza/The Republic

The Google data center in Mesa, photographed on Jan. 6, 2026.
Megan Mendoza/The Republic

The NTT data center in Mesa, photographed on Jan. 6, 2026.
Megan Mendoza/The Republic

The Google data center in Mesa, photographed on Jan. 6, 2026.
Megan Mendoza/The Republic

The Meta data center in Mesa, photographed on Jan. 6, 2026.
Megan Mendoza/The Republic

The NTT data center in Mesa, photographed on Jan. 6, 2026.
Megan Mendoza/The Republic

The NTT data center in Mesa, photographed on Jan. 6, 2026.
Megan Mendoza/The Republic

The Meta data center in Mesa, photographed on Jan. 6, 2026.
Megan Mendoza/The Republic

The Meta data center in Mesa, photographed on Jan. 6, 2026.
Megan Mendoza/The Republic

The Meta data center in Mesa, photographed…