Palm Springs Considers 45-Day Moratorium on New Data Centers
The Palm Springs City Council is set to consider a 45-day temporary moratorium on new data center applications. This pause would allow city staff to develop regulations for data centers amidst concerns about their impact on local water and power resources and job creation. This move follows similar actions by other Coachella Valley cities.
The Palm Springs City Council is slated to consider a 45-day temporary moratorium on new data center developments next week. City staff have recommended the pause to allow time for the city to develop comprehensive regulations for data centers within its ongoing zoning code updates.
Concerns driving this recommendation include the potential strain data centers could place on local water and power infrastructure, as well as the relatively low number of jobs these facilities typically create compared to their significant resource demands. If approved, Palm Springs would join nearby Coachella Valley cities like Indio, Desert Hot Springs, and Coachella that have also taken steps to regulate or restrict data center construction.
The proposed moratorium is not intended to be a permanent ban but rather a temporary measure to enable city officials to thoroughly study the optimal locations and regulatory frameworks for data centers within Palm Springs. The City Council is scheduled to hold a discussion on the matter on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Palm Springs City Hall.