Dixon City Council to vote on temporary pause for data center development
The Dixon City Council is set to vote on an urgency ordinance that would impose a temporary moratorium on new data center and battery energy storage system development for at least 45 days. This pause is intended to allow the city to assess potential strains on local infrastructure and environmental impacts. If adopted, Dixon would join other California communities taking a closer look at data center development.
The Dixon City Council is scheduled to hold a special meeting to vote on an urgency ordinance proposing a temporary moratorium on data center and battery energy storage system (BESS) development. The proposed ordinance, if passed, would immediately halt new applications for such facilities within Dixon city limits for at least 45 days. The Mayor stated the pause is necessary as the city navigates this "uncharted territory" and prioritizes examining potential strains on local infrastructure and environmental impacts.
The move comes amid a statewide increase in data center and BESS facility development, with other California communities also taking action. Earlier this month, the City of Riverbank approved a similar 45-day moratorium on data centers. Additionally, Governor Newsom recently signed seven bills into law aimed at strengthening California's approach to data centers, indicating that this is a top-of-mind issue across the state.