Eureka City Council to vote on data center moratorium
The Eureka City Council will vote on an urgency ordinance to implement a 45-day moratorium on new data center developments. This temporary halt is intended to allow city staff to study the potential impacts of data centers on electricity, water, noise, and the environment, as the city currently lacks specific regulations for such facilities.
The Eureka City Council is scheduled to vote on an urgency ordinance to enact a 45-day moratorium on new data center projects within the city. This temporary ban, if approved, would take effect immediately across all zoning districts and is intended to provide city staff and the Eureka Planning Commission sufficient time to study the potential impacts of data centers and develop appropriate zoning regulations.
City Attorney Robert Black, who prepared the staff report, highlighted that while no data center applications are currently pending in Eureka, similar projects are increasingly proposed in smaller communities, often generating significant local opposition. The ordinance cites concerns including massive power consumption, potential strain on the electrical grid, high water usage for cooling systems, constant noise pollution from chillers and generators, and an increase in the city's carbon footprint.
The proposed moratorium is permissible under California Government Code 65858, which allows for interim zoning ordinances as urgency actions. The council has the option to extend the moratorium for up to two years if needed. Adoption requires a four-fifths vote.