Fact check: Where Fresno County D1 supervisor candidates stand on data centers, water use
Candidates for Fresno County District 1 supervisor are being questioned on their stance regarding data center development, a topic that has not been directly addressed by the County Board but saw a 10-year moratorium enacted by the Fresno City Council. Neighboring Tulare County also extended its data center moratorium. The primary concern among candidates and the community is the significant water usage by data centers, especially given local water scarcity and quality issues.
Candidates Mike Karbassi and Maria Pacheco, vying for the Fresno County District 1 supervisor seat, are outlining their positions on data center development amidst growing community concerns and actions in neighboring jurisdictions. The Fresno County Board of Supervisors has not yet directly addressed the topic of data centers, which have drawn pushback statewide due to their high water consumption and association with AI technology.
Karbassi, a former Fresno City Council member, championed the city's unanimous vote to impose a 10-year moratorium on data centers, citing the critical issue of water scarcity and contamination in Fresno County. He questioned the logic of diverting water for data centers when local farms and communities like Kerman and San Joaquin lack sufficient clean drinking water. Pacheco, currently the Mayor of Kerman, stated her position is directly influenced by her constituents' overwhelming opposition, vowing to represent their negative feedback if elected.
These local discussions take place as the Tulare County Board of Supervisors recently extended its moratorium on data center development in unincorporated areas for an additional ten and a half months. Critics commonly raise concerns about the substantial water required to cool processors in data centers, a significant environmental consideration in California's often drought-stricken regions, with some also expressing general opposition to AI.