City council unanimously pauses data center construction, despite little power over NAVWAR proposal
The San Diego City Council unanimously approved an emergency 45-day pause on new data center construction, with options to extend it for up to 20 months. The action followed opposition to Manchester Financial Group's possible 400-megawatt data center at the federally controlled NAVWAR site in Old Town, although the city lacks direct authority over the land.
The San Diego City Council unanimously approved a 45-day emergency moratorium on new data center construction, with possible renewals lasting up to 20 months. The pause is intended to give the city time to develop rules governing data centers, including requirements related to housing impacts, setbacks, grid-upgrade costs, renewable energy, water recycling and community input.
The action followed public opposition to Manchester Financial Group's consideration of a 400-megawatt data center at the Navy's NAVWAR facility in Old Town. Residents and council members, including Stephen Whitburn, Marni von Wilpert and Sean Elo-Rivera, argued that the site could be better used for housing and raised concerns about electricity, water, environmental impacts and noise. Manchester president Ted Eldredge said no plans for the site have been finalized, while city officials acknowledged that San Diego has limited authority because the property is federally owned.
Council members and State Assemblymember Chris Ward urged San Diego's federal delegation to oppose the proposal. Representative Scott Peters is separately backing legislation requiring data center developers to pay for grid upgrades and their energy costs, while California has enacted a similar measure whose effects have not yet been tested. The moratorium applies to new facilities within the city, including an existing North Park site if it were proposed today, but exempts NAVWAR.