Gilroy City Council Enacts Data Center Moratorium Amidst Public Opposition to Amazon Project
Gilroy, California, has enacted a 45-day moratorium on new data center applications after significant public pressure. This action came after Amazon's first data center was approved with little public notice and without a city council vote, raising concerns about electricity and water usage. The moratorium specifically halts Amazon's pre-application plans for a second facility, as residents continue to voice opposition.
The city of Gilroy, California, has unanimously passed a 45-day moratorium on all new data center applications following months of public pressure. This decision by the Gilroy City Council aims to temporarily halt further data center development in the city.
The action was prompted by residents' concerns after an Amazon Web Services data center, currently nearing completion, was approved without a public vote. Community members raised issues regarding the facility's extensive electricity and water consumption, leading to increased public engagement at city council meetings and online.
While the moratorium does not affect the Amazon Web Services data center already under construction, it specifically pauses plans for a potential second Amazon facility. Amazon had submitted a pre-application for another data center, but a formal application cannot be filed during this temporary ban. The city retains the option to extend the moratorium for up to two years as residents continue their efforts to fight future data center projects.