California gubernatorial candidates divided on data center debate
California gubernatorial candidates are divided on the issue of banning data centers, with one project in Monterey Park already halted by opponents. The debate includes concerns about foreign influence in opposition efforts and the need for rigorous environmental and clean energy standards.
California gubernatorial candidates are facing scrutiny over their stances on data center development, with a key question being whether they would ban such facilities if elected. This issue is particularly controversial in California, a state home to Silicon Valley, and is expected to be a major topic for candidates in 2026.
In Monterey Park, a planned data center the size of four football fields was successfully blocked by opponents. This local victory for anti-data center sentiment is juxtaposed with comments from an Interior Secretary, who suggested that foreign-directed propaganda might be fueling efforts to block data center construction, emphasizing the necessity of data centers for various critical sectors like cancer research, defense, and education to maintain competitiveness.
Environmental advocacy group Greenpeace graded the California gubernatorial candidates on their environmental policies, which included data center construction. Tom Stier and Katie Porter received an 'NA', while an unnamed former HHS Secretary was given a 'D'. Republican candidates Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco received 'F's. Following these grades, a billionaire environmentalist reportedly walked back his support for a statewide data center moratorium, now advocating for a 'polluter pays' rule. One candidate's team did not confirm if her support for a moratorium still stands.
The discussion also highlights the role of local control, with calls for cities and counties to have more authority over where data centers are built. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco has pushed for greater transparency, while another candidate, Becerra, supports rigorous environmental and clean energy standards for data center development.