Monterey Park Voters Approve Citywide Data Center Ban
Monterey Park voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure to ban data centers citywide, making it the first such ban in California. The measure received 86.8% of the vote in early returns, signaling strong community opposition to resource-intensive data center developments. This followed local pushback against a proposed HMC StratCap project, which was subsequently withdrawn.
Monterey Park, California, is poised to become the first city in the state to ban data centers, following overwhelming voter support for Measure NDC in early election returns on June 2. The ballot measure, which amends the city's general plan to prohibit data centers citywide, garnered 86.8% of the vote. City Councilmember Thomas Wong and State Senator Sasha Renée Pérez both lauded the community's clear mandate against the resource-intensive facilities.
The measure was a direct response to a controversial data center project proposed by developer HMC StratCap at 1977 Saturn Drive. Intense pushback from community members and more than 20 environmental groups, including the Food & Water Watch, cited concerns over increased electricity rates, environmental pollution, and strain on water resources. HMC StratCap subsequently withdrew its application.
Advocates emphasized that data centers in California consumed 95% more electricity in 2023 than in 2019 and used 13 billion gallons of water. Supporters of the ban view Monterey Park's action as a model for other communities seeking to curb the expansion of AI tech corporations and their impact on local infrastructure and environment.