Pittsburg residents protest approved data center, demand halt to development
Pittsburg residents are protesting an already approved data center project by AVAIO Digital, expressing concerns about its environmental impact, water, and electricity usage. They rallied outside City Hall ahead of a special City Council meeting dedicated to the controversial project. Opponents are demanding a halt to the development despite the city's assertion that it completed environmental review and will bring economic benefits.
Dozens of Pittsburg residents rallied outside City Hall ahead of a special City Council meeting, dedicated to a controversial data center project that was approved in 2020. The project, slated for the former Delta View Golf Course, is to be built by AVAIO Digital as part of the city's planned technology park. City leaders tout the project's potential for job creation and tax revenue, stating it completed an environmental review and will utilize air cooling and mostly recycled water.
However, opponents voiced significant concerns, including the project's financial details, water and electricity consumption, and the specifics of the power purchase agreement. Residents like Amari Perkins, living near the proposed site, also raised alarms about potential noise from backup generators, air quality, and the lack of transparency from city officials, claiming many only recently learned about the approval. Despite the city's assurances, protestors are actively seeking to stop the development, hoping for answers and action from the City Council.