Committee Weighs Data Centers as Officials Cite Power, Water Demands

The Pasadena Housing, Homelessness and Planning Committee has initiated discussions regarding the potential allowance of data centers within the city, primarily scrutinizing the significant electricity and water demands these facilities entail. During a recent meeting, city staff provided a presentation outlining data center operations, their resource requirements, and the potential impacts if permitted locally. Councilmember Jason Lyon advocated for data centers to provide their own power and cooling resources, referencing fire hazards. Mayor Victor Gordo echoed concerns about the considerable draw on natural resources, suggesting it could burden the city and necessitate public subsidies, emphasizing the need to mitigate costs and impacts on residents. Councilmember Rick Cole voiced strong opposition, stating the city should not welcome data centers, characterizing them as "early stage monsters" that would deplete water and energy, generate political unrest, and offer no direct benefit to Pasadena. Officials highlighted that a 10-megawatt data center can consume electricity equivalent to 8,000 households and water comparable to 120 households annually. The city is in the preliminary stages of devising regulations, including the creation of formal definitions for different data center categories (e.g., "limited" and "general" facilities) and establishing development standards based on resource consumption. The Planning Commission is slated to gather further public input on these definitions and their environmental implications.