Tuolumne County To Seek Public Input On Data Center Ordinance
Tuolumne County, California, is planning a community meeting to gather public input for a new ordinance to regulate data centers. The County's Board of Supervisors directed staff to develop the ordinance due to data centers' potential high demand on local electricity and water supplies. This initial meeting will be an open-house format in Sonora, seeking early public input on concerns and priorities for the ordinance.
Tuolumne County, California, is initiating a public engagement process to develop a new ordinance aimed at regulating data center development within the county. The Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors recently directed the Community Development Department staff to draft this ordinance in response to the increasing proliferation of data centers nationwide, driven by artificial intelligence technology. While these facilities can offer economic benefits, concerns have been raised regarding their significant demands on local infrastructure, particularly electricity and water resources.
To gather early public input, a community meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 7, from 4-6 p.m. at the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors meeting room in Sonora. The session will adopt an open-house format, allowing attendees to discuss various topic areas and share comments, questions, and feedback without a formal presentation. The county is seeking to understand community issues, concerns, and priorities before the ordinance is further developed, with additional participation opportunities expected to be announced.