A movement against data centers gains steam in Oakland
An activist group called No Data Center in Oakland is gaining momentum in its opposition to a proposed data center by Behring Companies in Downtown Oakland. The group is organizing community members and has submitted a petition urging the Oakland City Council to impose a temporary moratorium on data centers. Councilmember Carroll Fife has introduced legislation for a 45-day moratorium to allow the city to develop comprehensive policies.
An activist group named No Data Center in Oakland is actively campaigning against a proposed data center by Behring Companies at 415 20th St. in Downtown Oakland. The group, which includes volunteers like Renee Coe and organizers from the Party for Socialism and Liberation, views the project as an economic and environmental threat, citing concerns about real estate prices, water, and electricity consumption.
The opposition movement, which claims over 7,000 petition signatures, is urging the Oakland City Council to enact a temporary moratorium on data centers and eventually a permanent ban. Councilmember Carroll Fife, representing the district where the Behring Companies' properties are located, recently introduced legislation proposing a 45-day moratorium on data center approvals. This pause would allow the city to develop comprehensive policies and regulations to address the operational, environmental, infrastructure, and public safety impacts of such facilities.
While Behring Companies' CEO Colin Behring has stated the data center would be a small part of a larger "innovation campus" and would occupy a site that previously housed a Department of Energy supercomputer, opponents like Eisa Al-Shamma argue that developers are driving up prices. Other companies, including Elon Musk's Tesla and Jeff Bezos's AI startup Prometheus, are also reportedly leasing industrial spaces in West Oakland for AI-related projects, contributing to the broader context of AI industry expansion in the city.
City officials, including Mayor Barbara Lee and Councilmember Rowena Brown, have been asked about their positions. Brown, who previously introduced legislation for AI "activation zones," clarified that her initiatives do not approve or regulate individual data centers. Organizers and advocates, including Aditi Varshneya of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, emphasize that the movement is about community control over the city's future amidst tech and real estate development.