Amazon data center construction in Gilroy draws resident opposition
An Amazon data center under construction in Gilroy, California, is causing public concern among residents who claim they were not adequately informed about the project. Despite Amazon and city officials stating all rules were followed, residents protested an open house and are gathering signatures to change city code regarding data center approvals and public hearings.
A massive Amazon data center being built on Gilroy, California's eastern edge has become a point of contention, with residents expressing concern over transparency and lack of public input. The project, expected to be operational by year-end, did not require Gilroy City Council approval as the land was already zoned for heavy industrial use, leading many residents to learn about it only after construction began.
Amazon and city officials, including Amazon Web Services Vice President Roger Wehner and City Administrator Matt Morley, maintain that the company followed all regulations and went above required measures for environmental offsets. However, at a recent Amazon-hosted open house, protesters chanted slogans like "NO DATA CENTERS IN GILROY," and residents like Annabelle Barbazette voiced distrust, accusing Amazon of taking advantage of the city. Volunteers at the event collected signatures for a petition to amend city code, aiming to mandate public hearings and additional environmental reviews for future data center projects, similar to actions taken in Oakley and Monterey Park.
The data center, consisting of two 218,000 square-foot buildings on 56 acres, will demand significant energy and water. Amazon is negotiating with Silicon Valley Clean Energy for 100% renewable power and plans to use reclaimed water for cooling in a later phase by 2030, though current plans involve potable water. Iris Stewart-Frey, a Santa Clara University professor, called for clearer state-level laws and increased transparency, emphasizing that while the Gilroy process was more open than others she tracked, a definite timeline for reclaimed water use is crucial in water-scarce California.