ABWC 2025 Conference Highlights Data Centers, Water, and Policy
WRRC Director Sharon B. Megdal and Associate Director Jamie McEvoy attended the 2025 Agribusiness and Water Council (ABWC) Conference last Friday, September 19. Attendees heard compelling insights into the intersection of water, agriculture, economics, energy, and policy shaping Arizona’s future.
A highlight of the conference was the presentation on Arizona Data Centers by Jeff Johnston, Lead Economist for Digital Infrastructure at CoBank. Johnston outlined how the rapid rise of graphical processing units (GPUs), essential to artificial intelligence (AI), is reshaping data center development. Once driven by proximity to fiber optic networks and large business hubs, data center locations are now determined primarily by energy availability. He explained that rural areas are increasingly attractive for the “learning bucket” phase of AI development, which is highly energy and computationally intensive, but does not require proximity to large population centers.
Another highlight was a panel discussing Arizona Department of Water Resources’ new Agriculture to Urban policy. The discussion focused on the evolution of the policy, compromises made by various parties, and remaining questions related to the policy, which becomes effective on September 26, 2025.
Glenn Hickman, President and CEO of Hickman Family Farms, gave a heartfelt presentation of the devastating impacts of avian influenza. The agenda also featured presentations on agricultural trade and the impacts of tariffs, power needs for the West, groundwater challenges, and an update on Colorado River negotiations.