Desert Hot Springs hits pause on data centers, with members open to extending it to two years
The Desert Hot Springs City Council unanimously voted to enact a 45-day moratorium on new data center permits, following similar actions by Indio and Coachella. This pause allows the city to develop comprehensive regulations for data centers, which are currently absent from its zoning laws. Council members expressed concerns about the environmental impact, specifically high water and power consumption in a desert climate.
The Desert Hot Springs City Council has unanimously voted to implement a 45-day moratorium on new data center permits, licenses, and approvals, mirroring actions taken by nearby cities Indio and Coachella. This temporary halt is intended to provide the city with time to develop a regulatory framework for data centers, as existing general plans and zoning codes lack specific standards for their location, size, water and power usage, noise, and cooling systems.
Council members, including Gary Gardner, voiced significant concerns regarding the suitability of data centers in a desert environment, citing their high electricity demands for cooling and substantial water consumption. Mayor Scott Matas clarified that there are no active data center proposals currently before the city, despite developer inquiries, and debunked "misinformation" about existing warehouse projects converting into data centers. He also expressed frustration that the moratorium decision came before the council without prior input from the planning commission, though he ultimately supported the 45-day pause.
The city aims to conduct a thorough study into data center technology during this period to assess its long-term compatibility with Desert Hot Springs. Following the initial 45 days, the council plans to reconvene to consider extending the moratorium for up to two years.