Developer wants chance to share proposal for data center project at Riverbank site
Aemetis Inc. is seeking to propose a 60-megawatt data center project at a former Army munitions plant in Riverbank, California, but has been unable to get on the City Council's agenda for a presentation. While the company has applied for electric service, the city has not yet received a formal land use application for the project. Public opinion on data centers in the area is mixed.
Aemetis Inc. is actively seeking to present a scaled-down proposal for a 60-megawatt data center project at the former Army munitions plant on Claribel Road in Riverbank, California. Andy Foster, president of advanced fuels for Aemetis, expressed frustration that the company has been unable to secure a slot on the City Council's agenda to share their plans, despite their readiness to do so.
The proposed data center would be smaller than hyperscale facilities, utilizing multiple modules the size of shipping containers within an existing building. Foster claims the project addresses common environmental concerns by employing a closed-loop water cooling system drawing from non-city wells and recycling water, and by using Hetch Hetchy electric service from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), thus avoiding reliance on local utilities like PG&E or the Modesto Irrigation District. The company estimates the $350 million investment would generate $10 million in annual property tax revenue for Riverbank and Stanislaus County.
Riverbank City Manager Maricela Garcia confirmed the city has had conversations with several data center developers but has not received any formal land use applications to date. Nancy Haden Crowley, press secretary for the SFPUC, noted that one data center developer had previously submitted and then cancelled an application for Hetch Hetchy electric service, though Aemetis is also pursuing service. Riverbank Councilmember Luis Uribe indicated that a large data center would necessitate significant changes to the Riverbank Industrial Complex plan and trigger a full environmental review, echoing public concerns about noise, water use, grid strain, and emissions. Public comments regarding data centers have shown a range of opinions, from outright opposition to conditional acceptance.
Another proposed data center project in Riverbank, inquired about by Modesto Roadsters owner Dave Heller, is no longer moving forward. Despite high electricity costs in California, Aemetis believes the state's proximity to Silicon Valley makes it an attractive location for data center development.