Billionaire-backed data center proposals cause rift in Oakland
Hundreds of Oakland residents protested proposed data centers by Prometheus, Tesla, and The Behring Company, citing environmental and economic concerns. Oakland Councilwoman Carroll Fife is working on a moratorium proposal amidst public debate and online tensions with activists. The projects, backed by tech billionaires, face significant local opposition over resource use and community impact.
Hundreds of Oakland residents recently gathered in the Fruitvale neighborhood to protest proposed data center developments, leading to a public disagreement between Oakland Councilwoman Carroll Fife and the Party for Socialism and Liberation. The socialist party, which organized an "anti-data center" petition with over 6,700 signatures, argues that data centers contribute to environmental and economic harm in working-class communities, citing high electricity and water consumption.
Specific data center projects in Oakland include Prometheus, an AI startup co-founded by Jeff Bezos, which leased 100,000 square feet in the American Steel Blocks building. Tesla also leased 40,000 square feet in the same building. Additionally, The Behring Company plans a 20,000-square-foot data center at 415 20th St., citing the building's former supercomputing capabilities. These companies have not commented or have stated the project's future use is undecided regarding jobs.
Amidst rising tensions, Councilwoman Fife, who has received death threats, is actively working on a proposal for a moratorium on data centers, stating that nothing has been approved by the planning department yet. Other local lawmakers, including Councilwoman Charlene Wang and Rep. Lateefah Simon, have called for greater transparency and safeguards, while Councilwoman Rowena Brown has championed "Responsible AI Activation Zones." Venture capitalist Drew Glover advocates for a deeper conversation about the opportunities these developments might bring to Oakland. The Party for Socialism and Liberation, however, maintains that these projects primarily benefit the wealthy while imposing burdens on local communities.