CRC Proposes Data Center on Elk Hills
California Resources Corp. (CRC) has proposed a new medium-sized data center, the Golden Valley Technology Hub, on Elk Hills near Taft, California. CRC has filed for a conditional use permit from Kern County and plans to power the facility with 275 megawatts of surplus power from its own Elk Hills Power Plant, utilizing a closed cooling system to minimize water usage. The project is currently undergoing an environmental review and anticipates bringing significant property tax revenue and jobs to Kern County.
California Resources Corp. (CRC) has announced plans to construct a new data center, to be named the Golden Valley Technology Hub, on Elk Hills, situated north of Taft, California. The project officially commenced this week with CRC filing a conditional use permit application with Kern County, following a series of public meetings held in the area last week, including one in Taft.
In a proactive move to avoid public opposition often faced by data center developments, CRC's design incorporates a closed cooling system that recirculates water, thereby circumventing the need for massive water draw-offs for evaporative cooling. The proposed facility is intended to be medium-sized and will be powered by 275 megawatts of surplus electricity from CRC's existing Elk Hills Power Plant. The proposed site is on the southern edge of Elk Hills, near Elk Hills Road and west of the Dustin Acres community.
Project development is slated to span several years, beginning with a comprehensive environmental review. Construction is expected to take at least one year following the review's completion. The project is projected to create approximately 1,500 construction jobs at its peak and 250 permanent positions, along with a substantial property tax windfall for Kern County.