Arcata City Council to Vote on 45-Day Data Center Moratorium
The Arcata City Council is scheduled to vote on a 45-day emergency moratorium on new data center permits. This action stems from concerns about the massive electricity and water consumption of data centers, which could strain the city's utility infrastructure. The moratorium would allow the city to study state law and amend its zoning ordinances to better regulate future data center developments.
The Arcata City Council is preparing to vote on an emergency ordinance that would suspend the processing and approval of data center permits for a minimum of 45 days. The proposed moratorium, supported by three council members, aims to address the potential "current and immediate threat" to public health, safety, and welfare posed by data centers' high electricity and water usage. According to a staff report, large data centers could consume as much electricity as 100,000 homes and millions of gallons of water daily, potentially overwhelming Arcata's public utility infrastructure.
The city's current municipal code lacks a specific definition for "data center," leaving future developments unregulated. The 45-day pause is intended to provide City Hall time to study state law and develop permanent amendments to its zoning laws, which could include requiring data center-specific conditional use permits or environmental reviews. The council will meet on Wednesday to consider the ordinance, with the possibility of extending the moratorium for an additional 10 months and 15 days beyond the initial 45-day period.