Pittsburg, California Residents Oppose AVAIO Digital Data Center Project
Residents of Pittsburg, California, are vehemently opposing plans by AVAIO Digital to build a 76-acre, 99-megawatt 'Perseus' data center on a former golf course, alleging the city council misrepresented the project. Concerns include noise, air pollution, and massive water consumption, despite AVAIO's promise to use recycled water. A petition against the project has garnered over 26,000 signatures, highlighting the growing nationwide trend of opposition to data center developments in residential areas.
Residents in Pittsburg, California, a coastal town 35 miles from San Francisco, are expressing strong opposition to a proposed 76-acre, 99-megawatt data center campus named 'Perseus' by AVAIO Digital. The facility is planned for the site of a former golf course, and locals accuse the Pittsburg City Council of misleading them by presenting the project as a 'technical park' with significant economic growth, which they argue is not the case for a data center. Resident James Camoza, 40, stated the council's transparency and knowledge have been 'horrifying,' claiming they purposefully misrepresented the project.
Key concerns among residents include potential noise and air pollution, disruption to daily life, impacts on pets and wildlife, and particularly the extensive water usage required for cooling. While AVAIO Digital has pledged to use recycled water, Camoza and others are skeptical of its viability, pointing out that large data centers can consume millions of gallons of water daily, a significant concern in a state prone to drought. Amhari Perkins, a local mother, launched a Change.org petition against the data center, which has gathered over 26,000 signatures, citing worries about increased noise affecting her autistic son and long-term air pollution impacts on nearby schools.
The Pittsburg situation reflects a broader national trend of growing community aversion to data centers near residential areas. The article references New York's statewide moratorium on large-scale data centers and specific city legislation, such as Monterey Park, California, and Port Washington, Wisconsin, which have enacted restrictions or prohibitions on new data center construction. California Governor Gavin Newsom has stated that data center development is primarily a 'local planning decision,' emphasizing that large hyperscale data centers have not been the dominant investment in California compared to other states like Virginia and Texas.
Wannie Park, founder of PADO AI, an energy management company for data centers, noted that developers must engage early with communities, ensure transparency, and demonstrate direct local benefits to overcome regulatory obstacles and public pushback. Park also highlighted that developers cannot simply avoid populated areas, as facilities require access to strong power grids, network connectivity, and water sources that often exist near residential zones, necessitating better neighborly practices.