Tehama County Considers New Data Center Regulations Amid Resident Concerns
Tehama County officials are considering new regulations for data centers after discovering that they are currently allowed by right in several zoning areas. The Planning Commission is recommending conditional use permits, while residents raised concerns about water consumption, energy use, noise, light pollution and environmental risks.
Tehama County is developing regulatory guardrails for potential data center projects after Chief Administrator Gabe Hydrick identified that county rules did not specifically address the facilities. No data center applications or inquiries have been submitted, but the Board of Supervisors referred the issue to the Planning Commission for study.
At a recent Planning Commission meeting, at least six residents spoke against allowing data centers in the county, citing local groundwater concerns, grid strain, rising electricity costs, noise, light pollution, toxic chemicals and electronic waste. The commission recommended requiring future facilities to obtain conditional use permits, while the column’s author urged requirements for closed-loop cooling, self-generated power and strict sound limits.