San Francisco supervisors pass 45-day data-center moratorium
San Francisco supervisors approved an immediate 45-day citywide moratorium on new data center construction and expansion, including NOVVA's Bayview project and a proposed Dogpatch facility. The moratorium will allow the Planning Department to study data centers' effects on water, energy, air quality, land use and nearby communities, and it could be extended or lead to permanent restrictions.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved a 45-day moratorium on data center construction and expansion across the city. The pause affects NOVVA's 7.6-acre facility at 400 Paul Ave. in Bayview, which planned to expand from 9 to 36 megawatts by 2028, as well as a proposed 160,000-square-foot facility at 1215 Michigan St. in Dogpatch that has not begun construction.
The San Francisco Planning Department will study the facilities' effects on water use, energy demand, air quality, land use and surrounding communities, with the Planning Commission scheduled to hold a hearing after the review. District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton, who introduced the measure with support from Supervisors Connie Chan, Jackie Fielder and Cheyenne Chen, said the moratorium could be extended for up to 22 months or result in permanent controls if significant environmental impacts are found. Several candidates seeking to replace Walton have also expressed support for a moratorium or permanent ban.