San Francisco Supervisors Push for Moratorium on New Data Centers
San Francisco supervisors are proposing a 45-day moratorium on new data center approvals to study potential risks and update city codes. This move comes amid growing public opposition to AI infrastructure and environmental concerns raised by residents, particularly in the Bayview neighborhood.
San Francisco Supervisor Shamann Walton, supported by supervisors Jackie Fielder, Chyanne Chen, and Connie Chan, plans to introduce a 45-day moratorium on new data center construction approvals. The proposal, which is scheduled for introduction on September 15, aims to pause development while the city's planning committee studies potential risks and creates updated codes, as current regulations haven't been revised since 2001.
The initiative reflects increasing public opposition to the infrastructure supporting the artificial intelligence boom. Residents in areas like the Bayview neighborhood, which hosts two of the city's 12 data centers and is represented by Walton, have expressed long-standing environmental and health concerns. If approved, the moratorium could be extended up to 220 days or longer and may impact planned expansions of existing data centers.
San Francisco's action follows the example of Monterey Park in Southern California, which implemented an interim moratorium before establishing a permanent ban on data centers in May. Supervisors emphasized the need for comprehensive information on data center impacts before further development is permitted in San Francisco communities.