Local Politics
California Cities Approve Data Center Moratoriums as State Laws Fall Short
At least 26 resolutions, moratoriums or bans on data center development have been passed or proposed across California since June, according to Food & Water Watch. In the first half of October, Oakland's city council unanimously approved a 45-day moratorium—the first in Alameda County and fourth in the Bay Area—while San Francisco approved a similar measure this month. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors postponed a vote on permanently banning hyperscale facilities on unincorporated land after receiving an overwhelming volume of public feedback, and Santa Clara is advancing new water and air pollution regulations for data centers. Alhambra residents will vote on a moratorium measure in the November election. The local pushback follows Gov. Gavin Newsom signing seven state laws last month focused on disclosure, environmental impact studies and grid protection, which opponents say do not go far enough.