Data centers are making parts of Phoenix up to 4°F hotter, study finds

Arizona State University researchers found four Phoenix-area data centers are warming nearby neighborhoods.

Temperatures downwind averaged 1.3 to 1.6°F higher, with hotspots reaching up to 4°F.

The heating effect extended about a third of a mile from the facilities.

The study highlights how data center growth can worsen urban heat, with implications for health, energy use, and permitting.