On June 25, more than 100 people spent a day at ASU SkySong working through the questions Arizona is asking about data center growth. The clearest message from that room: don't let this be a one-time conversation. The Community Engagement Taskforce is how we make sure it isn't.

The taskforce is a working group with one purpose, to build a more informed, transparent, and constructive conversation around data center growth in Arizona. Communities are asking real questions about water, power, rates, land use, jobs, and whether they have a voice before decisions feel final. The taskforce exists to help bridge the gap between industry, local government, community voices, utilities, and economic development leaders so those conversations happen earlier and go better.

Until now the taskforce has been led by Andrea Clinton, AZDCA's Director of Community Engagement. We're expanding it, and we're opening the door.

The work is practical. Identify the concerns communities raise most often. Build plain-English FAQs and discussion guides. Support conversations with city and county leaders and rural stakeholders. Define what good engagement looks like before, during, and after a project is proposed. And keep all of it moving between events, so the effort produces useful tools and visible progress, not just meetings.

We want a mix of voices: data center operators and customers, local elected officials and municipal staff, community and rural perspectives, utility and infrastructure experts, economic development leaders, water and energy specialists, educators, and civic organizations. The goal is not agreement on every issue. The goal is the right people in the room so the work is grounded, honest, and useful.

One thing the taskforce is not: a sales effort. This group is not about selling data centers to communities. It's about building a better process for listening, answering questions, sharing facts, and earning trust.

This is a working group with a near-term deadline. The next community engagement session is September 17, and the taskforce aims to show meaningful progress before then: a summary of the concerns raised on June 25, a community FAQ, early-engagement best practices, and a map of who needs to be part of this conversation.

If that sounds like work you want a hand in, tell us you're interested. It takes two minutes. You can also reach Andrea Clinton directly at [email protected].