East Bay Official Says She’s Gotten Death Threats Over Huge New Data Center Along Contra Costa Canal
Tensions are high in Pittsburg, California, over the AVAIO Perseus Data Center, which was approved two years ago but is now facing significant community opposition. A city councilmember has reported receiving death threats related to the project, and a lawsuit filed by the Center for Biological Diversity was settled with environmental concessions. The city has reportedly paused further action on the development amidst ongoing public outcry.
Tensions are escalating in Pittsburg, California, concerning the AVAIO Perseus Data Center, a 300,000-square-foot facility approved two years prior that could expand from 99 to 500 megawatts. Pittsburg City Councilmember Arlene Kobata reported receiving death threats and physical assault from a citizen angered by the city's approval of the project. Mayor Dionne Adams has condemned the threats, emphasizing residents' right to oppose projects without violence.
The data center, located on the former Pittsburg municipal golf course, has drawn strong opposition from residents citing a lack of transparency in the approval process and concerns over its massive electricity and water demands, emissions, and potential impact on wetlands and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta ecosystem. A lawsuit filed last year by the Center for Biological Diversity against Pittsburg and the developers resulted in a settlement requiring environmental measures, including 100% renewable energy, recycled water, and a $750,000 payment for climate resiliency projects.
Despite assurances from AVAIO Digital that the facility will be air-cooled and use recycled water, and the city's statement that power will come from separate infrastructure, residents remain unconvinced. Hundreds have attended public meetings, and a petition is circulating advocating for the site to be used for parks and community amenities instead. In response to the growing unrest, the city has paused further action on the development to conduct additional community outreach.
The controversy in Pittsburg reflects a broader trend in the Bay Area, where cities like San Francisco, Oakland, Oakley, Gilroy, and Richmond are considering or have already enacted moratoriums on new data center developments.