Coachella to Host Special Council Meeting on Data Center Moratorium
Coachella City Council is holding a special meeting to discuss a proposed urgency ordinance for a moratorium on a data center project. The decision follows community protests over environmental and health concerns related to the proposed Coachella Valley Technology Campus by Stronghold Power Systems Inc.
The Coachella City Council is set to hold a special meeting to consider a proposed urgency ordinance that would initiate a moratorium on a data center project within the city. This follows a May 27 meeting where council members voted to postpone discussions on the moratorium and approved a third-party legal review of the city's utility agreement with the developer, Stronghold Power Systems Inc.
Community members have voiced strong opposition, citing environmental and health concerns regarding the proposed Coachella Valley Technology Campus. This project, intended for at least 240 acres of agricultural land near Avenue 52 and Fillmore Street, is designed to house a minimum of 270 MW capacity for at least three data center buildings and associated infrastructure.
Stronghold Power Systems Inc. states on its website that the center would operate on self-sufficient microgrids, aiming to avoid reliance on or impact to Coachella's existing infrastructure. The facilities are planned to be powered by fuel cells, battery energy storage systems, and limited-use backup generation. The special meeting will take place at 6 p.m. at City Hall.