Gilroy to vote on pausing new data center development
Gilroy City Council is set to vote on a temporary citywide moratorium on new data center development to allow time to update regulations. This proposed pause would not impact an Amazon data center already under construction. Other Bay Area cities like San Francisco and Hayward are also considering similar measures.
The Gilroy City Council is scheduled to vote on whether to enact a temporary citywide moratorium on new data center development. The proposed pause would allow the city to review and update its regulations for future data centers and other large industrial projects, addressing concerns from community members.
Mayor Marie Blankley issued a statement acknowledging "important questions and concerns about how Gilroy should evaluate projects of this size and intensity in the future." She added that the temporary pause would provide an opportunity to strengthen existing standards and bring proposed changes back to the community for public discussion.
While the moratorium would halt new development applications, it would not affect the controversial $2 billion Amazon data center already under construction in Gilroy. Data centers are noted for their significant electricity and water consumption, which can strain local grids and water systems, and generate noise for nearby residents.
Similar actions are underway in other Bay Area cities. San Francisco supervisors plan to introduce an urgent ordinance for a 45-day data center moratorium, and the Hayward City Council is set to discuss a potential development ban.