Coachella City Council Expected to Permanently Ban Data Centers Citywide
The Coachella City Council is scheduled to vote on a permanent ban on data centers, citing concerns about strained electric infrastructure, water supply, noise, and other environmental issues. This follows public scrutiny and the halting of a previous large-scale data center project, the Coachella Valley Technology Campus, with an existing temporary moratorium in place until 2027.
The Coachella City Council is slated to vote this Wednesday on Ordinance No. 1231, which proposes a permanent ban on data centers within the city, allowing for certain exemptions like accessory server rooms. The council had unanimously approved the first reading of the ordinance on August 12. Concerns regarding potential strain on electric infrastructure, water supply, noise pollution, and other environmental and land-use issues were cited as reasons for the proposed ban.
This move comes after months of public scrutiny and community opposition to data center developments in the region. Earlier this year, the council had approved an agreement with Stronghold Power Systems Inc. for the Coachella Valley Technology Campus, a large-scale data center project on over 240 acres of agricultural land. However, due to public outcry over water and energy use and health concerns, the council adopted a 45-day moratorium on June 4 and subsequently canceled its agreement with the developer, effectively halting the project. A temporary moratorium is currently in effect until June 3, 2027.
If adopted, Coachella would become the first city in the Coachella Valley to enact such a permanent prohibition. Neighboring cities like Indio, Desert Hot Springs, and Palm Springs are also reportedly discussing similar actions to temporarily block data center developments.