Bill Gates' Arizona Smart City Plan Spearheads A Global Human Rights Disaster

Bowne Report May 5, 2025

Bill Gates is making waves in Arizona, and it’s not just about tech. Through his investment firm, Cascade Investment LLC, he’s spent $80 million to acquire 24,800 acres west of Phoenix, near Buckeye, for a proposed “smart city” called Belmont. This high-tech community, announced in 2017, is set to include 80,000 homes, 3,800 acres of commercial space, and 470 acres for schools, aiming to house 182,000 people. But recent reports of heightened wildfire risks and insurance policy cancellations in the Phoenix area are raising concerns about the project’s timing and feasibility.

Belmont’s Big Plans Meet Arizona’s Harsh Realities

The Belmont project, managed by Belmont Partners, envisions a city wired for 5G, powered by solar energy, and designed for autonomous vehicles. Located along a proposed I-11 freeway connecting Phoenix to Las Vegas, the site is strategically positioned for growth. Buckeye, a nearby city, has seen its population surge from 6,000 to over 65,000 in two decades, and Phoenix is one of America’s fastest-growing metro areas. Gates’ firm bought the land at roughly $7,500 per acre, a bargain compared to urban prices, making it an attractive investment.

However, Arizona’s environmental challenges loom large. The state is grappling with a 22-year drought, and the Colorado River, which supplies much of its water, is at historic lows. A 2012 Bureau of Land Reclamation study projected that demand for the river’s water could exceed supply by 2028. Belmont’s water needs remain unclear, raising questions about how a city of 182,000 will be sustained in a parched desert.

Adding to the concerns, a 2024 report from First Street, cited by Axios, found that over half of Phoenix-area properties face wildfire risks in the next 30 years, driven by dry conditions, invasive plants, and shifting winds.

In response, insurance companies, including Progressive, have begun canceling wildfire policies in parts of Arizona, leaving homeowners vulnerable. Just like the cancellations surrounding the Los Angeles fires. A tell tale sign as Smart City development requirements demand human displacement ala scorched Earth bureaucratic red tape. While no evidence directly ties these cancellations to Belmont, the overlap in timing and location is a big ol stinking red herring.