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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session |
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HB 2452: comprehensive plans; data centers; nuclear
Sponsor: Representative Wilmeth, LD 2
Committee on Artificial Intelligence & Innovation
Overview
Alters a county's comprehensive plan to include small modular reactors (SMR) and data centers.
History
The county board of supervisors (Board) is required to form a planning and zoning commission (Commission) that advises the board on matters of planning, zoning, subdivision platting and adopting and enforcing rules that may apply to the development of its area of jurisdiction. The Commission must make reports and recommendations relating to development of county upon requests of the Board (A.R.S. § 11-802).
Comprehensive plans are used for development and consultation with other governments, utilities, agencies and military. These comprehensive plans must confer with the Arizona State Land Department and governing bodies for the development of the county. Proposed plans or amendments are circulated for review, with public hearing before the plans move to the Commission and the Board. These plans remain effective for up to 10 years where they must be readopted or replaced (A.R.S. § 11-805).
SMR are nuclear fission reactors that produce electrical energy output and are smaller in both size and output from more traditional, larger nuclear reactors. SMRs vary in size, technology options, capabilities, deployment scenarios and output. These reactors vary in size from tens of megawatts up to hundreds of megawatts, can be used for power generation, process heat, desalination or other industrial uses. SMR designs may employ light water as a coolant or other non-light water coolants such as a gas, liquid metal or molten salt (DOE).
Provisions
1. Modifies the comprehensive plan to include:
a. studies and recommendations related to electric power production and demand, including SMRs and data centers;
b. the extent of uses of the land for energy and mining; and
c. planning for energy use that designates the proposed general distribution, location and extent of the uses of the land for thermal and nonthermal electric generating units appropriate to the county. (Sec. 1)
2. Requires a land use plan to include the designation of the proposed general distribution, location and extent of the uses of land for the construction and operation of data center usage and data center facilities. (Sec. 1)
3. Specifies the land designations are sufficient in location and extent to not prevent or prohibit the use of land for construction or operation of data centers and SMRs in the county. (Sec. 1)
4. Removes from the comprehensive plan the inclusion of energy use that includes renewable energy. (Sec. 1)
5. Includes a submission of a county comprehensive plan within two years of the effective date. (Sec. 2)
6. Makes technical changes. (Sec. 1)
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10. Initials TM HB 2452
11. 1/30/2026 Page 0 Artificial Intelligence & Innovation
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