COCHISE COUNTY, ARIZONA
Big ideas.
Local
opportunity.
A community guide to the proposed SpaceX / Tombstone Resources data center. Explore the potential for local employment, cooperative member benefits, water reuse, and wildlife-conscious site design.
Local opportunity. Linked sources. Updated November 7, 2026.
01 / THE PROPOSAL
Explore the
local opportunity.
A quick overview first. Expand a question below for the supporting detail.
A proposed computing campus near the Apache Generating Station, along U.S. Highway 191.
Tombstone Resources L.L.C. is the applicant for Special Use docket SU26-22. Its November 4 town hall statement names SpaceX as host. Applicant statement ↗
Planning figures from the applicant, summarized by the County. County project page ↗
TWO DIFFERENT PICTURES
While it’s built.
When it’s running.
Applicant planning estimates and design descriptions.
Construction and operations can overlap.
| Topic | Construction | Daily operations |
|---|---|---|
| Staffing | Thousands of temporary trades workers; about 5,500 at peak construction. | About 250 operations staff and contractors initially; about 1,000 across all shifts at full build-out. |
| Traffic | With the shuttle plan: roughly 80 buses, 1,000–1,300 passenger vehicles, and 150–250 trucks daily. Each enters and leaves once. | Roughly 600–700 passenger vehicles per day at full build-out, spread across all hours; deliveries and maintenance also occur. |
| Hours | Around-the-clock construction is proposed, with staggered shifts and worker shuttles. | A 24-hour operating campus with technicians, facilities crews, security, and maintenance. |
| Sound | Site work, construction equipment, deliveries, and construction traffic vary with the phase of work. | Dry-cooler fans and transformers are the main routine sources described. Standby generators run for outages and testing; buffers and equipment placement are part of the design. |
| Lighting | Shielded construction lighting is requested for each phase, including night work. | Shielded, downward-directed, warm lighting; dimming or motion controls where practical, with task lighting for maintenance. |
| Duration | About one to two years from vertical construction to occupancy per phase, with phases overlapping. | Ongoing operation as buildings enter service. Later phases can be under construction while earlier buildings operate. |
Workforce figures span all shifts; they are not simultaneous site occupancy. Traffic figures are applicant estimates, not measured counts. Source: Operations Narrative, pp. 26–29 ↗
THE LOCATION
Put the proposal
on the map.
U.S. Highway 191 · Apache Generating Station
Cochise County, Arizona
Two properties.
One proposed campus.
The application covers approximately 747 acres: roughly 400 acres on the AEPCO property and 348 acres on the Southline property. The approximate acreages are rounded.
The County map shows the relationship to Highway 191, Apache Station, and Willcox Playa. It is a location guide, rather than a construction layout or a property survey.
Open original County map View applicant concept plansHOW IT WORKS
Big systems.
Plain explanations.
Move heat. Recirculate liquid.
The applicant’s base design uses fans rather than cooling towers to reject heat. Reclaimed water from AEPCO’s Apache Generating Station will be used for the initial cooling-system fill. Potable water will serve workers’ everyday needs, including drinking water, handwashing, and bathrooms. The application also identifies trucked non-potable water as a backup supply. The Water Narrative also discusses optional spray assistance during exceptional heat.
Read the applicant’s technical narrativeSimplified educational diagrams based on the application. These are not engineering drawings or a detailed electrical one-line.
WHAT THIS COULD MEAN LOCALLY
Employment & skilled work
Construction trades and an on-site operations workforce, with about 1,000 staff and contractors across all shifts at full build-out.
Explore employmentCooperative member benefits
Potential bill offsets, stronger cooperative finances, and less pressure on future rates.
Explore power & benefitsDry cooling & water reuse
Potable water for workers’ everyday needs; reclaimed AEPCO water for the initial cooling-system fill.
Explore the water planWildlife & habitat protection
The wildlife plan includes Arizona Game and Fish coordination, bird-safe design, and fencing that supports animal movement.
Explore the wildlife planExplore the applicant’s design commitments and the utilities’ proposed member benefits in the linked sources.
02 / BENEFITS & DESIGN
The opportunity,
in detail.
Choose a topic, then expand a question.
Read the proposal and its supporting sources.
Less water. More reuse.
Potable water will serve workers’ everyday needs, including drinking water, handwashing, and bathrooms. Reclaimed water from AEPCO’s Apache Generating Station will be used for the initial cooling-system fill. Explore the dry-cooling design, water reuse, and stormwater infiltration below.
Read the water narrative01How does annual water use compare with pecan trees?
At full build-out, estimated operational use is 7–10 acre-feet per year, excluding construction: about the annual irrigation applied to 1.75–2.5 acres of mature pecan trees. This comparison uses the University of Arizona’s 2026 planning assumption of 4 acre-feet per acre per year; actual orchard use varies. An optional heat-wave spray reserve could add up to 4 acre-feet a year, equivalent to another 1 acre of mature pecans annually. These are volume comparisons, not a claim that the project replaces an orchard or has the same groundwater impact.
University of Arizona · Pecan irrigation benchmark02Which water will be used where?
Potable water will be used for workers’ normal daily needs, including drinking water, handwashing, and bathrooms. Reclaimed water from AEPCO’s Apache Generating Station will be used for the initial cooling-system fill. The reclamation plan intercepts and treats a portion of the station’s wastewater that would otherwise enter evaporation ponds. The application also identifies reclaimed water for construction and fire reserves, with trucked non-potable water as backup. The one-time fill across the full campus is estimated at 10–18 acre-feet over the multi-year build-out: the same volume used to irrigate about 2.5–4.5 acres of mature pecans for one year at the University of Arizona benchmark. This one-time cooling-loop fill is separate from annual operations.
Application · Water Narrative, pp. 31–3303How does dry cooling work in hot weather?
Liquid circulates inside closed pipes while outdoor fans carry heat away, much like a car radiator. The base design avoids evaporating water for routine cooling. During exceptional heat, the proposal allows the loop temperature to rise within equipment limits; the narrative also describes an optional reserve spray capability.
Application · Dry-cooling design04What does the application say about groundwater recharge?
The application identifies a stormwater retention basin and preserved natural washes to promote on-site infiltration and recharge. Its drainage plan also calls for managing runoff without increasing discharge to neighboring properties, with basins draining within 24 hours. Reclamation means treating and reusing wastewater; recharge means water moving into the ground to replenish groundwater. The application does not give a quantified aquifer-recharge volume or describe a dedicated aquifer-injection project.
Application · Water strategies; Operations Narrative, section 1303 / TAX DISTRICTS
Where could
tax revenue go?
New taxable investment could benefit County services, Cochise College, the applicable school district, and hospital, library, and flood control districts. Parcel boundaries and tax rules determine each entity’s share.
County tax informationPOTENTIAL TAX DISTRICTS BENEFITING
What property-tax revenue does the applicant project?
The application’s summary gives this overall range. It does not provide a district-by-district dollar allocation. This is an applicant projection, rather than a verified amount for any one entity’s budget. Parcel coverage, assessed value, tax treatment, levies, and school funding rules determine the district effects.
Applicant financial summaryCochise County
County government and services.
Cochise County Junior College District
Cochise College.
Cochise Elementary School District #26
The local elementary district identified for the project area; parcel coverage and school funding rules determine the net benefit.
Northern Cochise Hospital District
Supports local hospital services, with project parcels within the district eligible to contribute through its property-tax levy.
Cochise County Library District
Countywide library services supported by the library property-tax levy.
Cochise County Flood Control District
Flood control and drainage programs supported by the countywide flood control levy.
What about “Type 03 Cochise”?
The County lists Cochise Elementary Type 03 as a separate school-related levy. This school-related levy follows the applicable tax and school-funding rules.
Potential benefits grow with completed taxable development. Parcel coverage, valuation, and funding rules determine each district’s share.
FROM APPLICATION TO OPERATION
The sequence,
at a glance.
Recorded dates, a scheduled hearing,
and the applicant’s construction outlook.
01Application receivedCOUNTY RECORD
SU26-22 submitted to Cochise County.
View source02Applicant town hallAPPLICANT EVENT
The applicant’s statement names SpaceX as host.
View source03Public hearingSCHEDULED · 2 P.M. AZ
Planning & Zoning Commission hearing in Bisbee. Check the official notice for changes.
View source04Designs, permits & utility workREQUIRED SEQUENCE
Building and agency permits, utility studies and facilities, and applicable approvals precede service and occupancy.
View source05Construction service targetAPPLICANT TARGET
The application narrative mentions March; the utility letter identifies April. This guide uses spring 2027 as the target window, rather than a confirmed start date.
View source06Build and occupy in stagesAPPLICANT ESTIMATE
The Operations Narrative estimates one to two years from vertical construction to occupancy for each phase, with overlap. It gives no fixed completion date for the whole campus.
View sourceThe permitting step is a prerequisite, not a dated milestone. Later construction phases depend on the required infrastructure and approvals.
WHO HANDLES WHAT
The right question.
The right place.
Expand an entry for responsibilities
and official contact links.
01PROJECT PLANSTombstone Resources / applicant
Project design, phasing, proposed operations, and the applicant’s commitments. Tombstone Resources’ town hall statement identifies SpaceX as host.
02LAND USE & COUNTY REVIEWCochise County Development Services
Coordinates the Special Use review and relevant County and agency reviews. The Planning & Zoning Commission decides the application, with an appeal route to the Board of Supervisors. Use docket SU26-22 when asking about this proposal.
03ELECTRIC SERVICESSVEC & AEPCO
SSVEC is the retail electric-service cooperative. AEPCO handles wholesale power and the transmission and substation arrangements described for the project. Questions about utility studies, service infrastructure, member benefits, and cost assignments belong with the utilities.
04UTILITY REGULATIONArizona Corporation Commission
Reviews utility service arrangements within its authority. SSVEC identifies Commission approval as part of the project’s Energy Services Agreement process. The Commission’s large-load framework and eDocket are useful sources for agreement requirements and filings.
05GROUNDWATER & WELLSArizona Department of Water Resources
Groundwater rights, wells, and Active Management Area requirements. The Willcox AMA page is the official starting point for area-specific groundwater rules and AMA staff contacts.
06ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITYArizona Department of Environmental Quality
Air quality, water quality, wastewater, and waste requirements within ADEQ’s authority. Which permits apply depends on the facility and its proposed activities. Groundwater-use rights and groundwater-quality protection are different responsibilities.
07HIGHWAY ACCESSArizona Department of Transportation
State highway right-of-way and encroachment permits, including proposed Highway 191 driveway connections. The application also identifies ADOT review of the traffic impact analysis and required highway access improvements.
Public contact sources checked November 7, 2026. These links open the organization’s own website, email address, or phone number; this guide does not submit inquiries.
04 / GO TO THE SOURCE
The documents
behind the discussion.
Project status & public notices
The official starting point for updates and hearing information.
Open source APPLICATION · PDFSpecial Use application
The applicant’s project description and supporting materials.
Open source LOCATION MAPCounty project location map
Official County map of project parcels, Highway 191, Apache Station, and Willcox Playa.
Open source UTILITYSSVEC member benefits
Proposed bill benefits, financial protections, and electric service arrangements.
Open source EMPLOYMENT · PDFWorkforce & on-site roles
Applicant estimates for construction, operations staffing, and types of work.
Open source WATER · PDFReclamation & water supply
Planned power-station wastewater reuse and the campus water narrative.
Open sourcePROJECT RECORD
Dates to know.
Manually maintained · reviewed November 7, 2026
Public hearing scheduled
2:00 p.m. Arizona time in Bisbee. Check for schedule changes.
Official legal notice ↗
Applicant town hall
The applicant’s dated statement names SpaceX as host.
Read the applicant statement ↗
Application received
The County announced receipt of the Special Use application.
County announcement ↗
This guide is a dated snapshot. Source pages may be updated at different times; use the County’s current notices for hearing information.
05 / PUBLIC HEARING
Follow the
public review.
The County lists a hearing for docket SU26-22 on December 9. Confirm the schedule and attendance information on the official County page.
Official hearing informationPLAIN-LANGUAGE GLOSSARY
A few terms.
A clearer picture.
Acre-foot (AF)Water
A volume of water equal to covering one acre of land one foot deep: about 325,851 U.S. gallons. Acre-feet per year describes an annual volume; a one-time cooling-loop fill is a separate quantity.
USGS water glossaryGigawatt (GW)Power
A unit of power: one billion watts, or 1,000 megawatts. It describes the rate of electricity use or production at a moment. The proposal’s roughly 6 GW full-build figure describes electrical demand, rather than energy used over a year.
EIA · Measuring electricityGigawatt-hour (GWh)Power
A unit of energy. Using 1 GW steadily for one hour uses 1 GWh. A battery’s GWh rating describes energy storage; its GW rating describes how quickly it can deliver power. They measure different things.
EIA · Measuring electricityBattery Energy Storage System (BESS)Power
Batteries and associated equipment that store electrical energy and deliver it when needed. This proposal describes on-site storage to carry computing loads through grid disturbances. Storage must be charged; it is not a source of newly generated energy.
Application · Operations NarrativeDry coolingWater
A way to release heat through air-cooled heat exchangers and fans. The applicant’s base design avoids cooling towers and routine evaporative cooling. Its narrative separately discusses optional spray assistance during exceptional heat.
Application · Water NarrativeClosed-loop coolingWater
Cooling liquid circulates through a contained circuit and is reused. Heat is transferred out while the liquid returns through the loop. An initial fill and small maintenance makeup quantities are separate from continuously evaporating cooling water.
Application · Water NarrativeWater reclamation / reuseWater
Treating previously used water so it can serve another suitable use. The application proposes treated Apache Station wastewater for non-potable needs. Reuse describes using that water again; it does not itself mean the water is returned to the aquifer.
USGS · Reclaimed wastewater terminologyGroundwater rechargeWater
Water reaching and replenishing groundwater storage. Stormwater infiltration can contribute to recharge, but a drainage basin’s size or captured runoff alone does not establish the volume that reaches the aquifer. The application discusses preserved washes and infiltration; it gives no quantified recharge volume.
USGS · Recharge definitionSpecial Use AuthorizationPlanning
The County’s land-use review for this proposed use. It is separate from a building permit. The Planning & Zoning Commission considers the request, and applicable permits and other approvals are part of the development process.
County · Special Use processDefinitions are simplified for this guide. Linked sources provide the technical context.
A FEW IMPORTANT DISTINCTIONS
Is this an official SpaceX or County website?
No. This is an independent community information guide. It does not speak for SpaceX, Tombstone Resources, Cochise County, SSVEC, or any taxing district.
Are the tax districts guaranteed additional spending money?
The applicant provides an overall tax projection, but that does not establish a net budget benefit for each district. Parcel coverage, valuation, tax treatment, applicable levies, and school funding formulas determine each entity’s budget effect.