Arcata council looks to moratorium on data centers
The Arcata City Council is moving towards enacting a temporary moratorium on data center development within the city. This decision follows a presentation detailing the power and water demands of hyperscale facilities and increased developer interest due to existing trans-Pacific fiber-optic cables. The council unanimously supported bringing a moratorium to a vote at their next meeting while staff study updated zoning and environmental review standards.
The Arcata City Council is considering a temporary moratorium on data and AI center development following an extensive presentation on the industry's impacts and growing developer interest in the city. Building official Joe Bishop briefed the council on various types of data centers, their utility demands, and Arcata's unique position with two trans-Pacific fiber-optic cables landing nearby.
Council members, including Mayor Kimberley White and Councilmember Sarah Schaefer, expressed concerns about the potential for hyperscale facilities, which can consume massive amounts of power and water, contrasting them with the city's existing small co-location center that uses minimal resources. City Manager Merritt Perry confirmed active inquiries from developers seeking to build near the cable landing points.
The council voiced unanimous support for proposing a 45-day temporary moratorium at their next meeting. This pause would allow city staff to update zoning regulations and environmental review standards to determine how and if such facilities should be allowed. Bishop also clarified that undersea cables in Humboldt Bay are owned by Google and Meta, although they are leased for use by multiple companies.