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Tulare County Supervisor Explains Votes on Data Center Moratorium, Opposition Letter
The Tulare County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to extend a moratorium on data center development in unincorporated areas of the county for an additional 10 months and 15 days. Additionally, the board voted 3-2 to adopt a letter opposing data center construction within Tulare County, with Supervisor Eddie Valero explaining his dissenting vote was due to changes in the letter's wording.
Tulare County Supervisor Eddie Valero addressed concerns regarding his recent votes on data center development during a Board of Supervisors meeting. The board unanimously approved the extension of a moratorium on data center development in unincorporated parts of the county for an additional 10 months and 15 days. This decision followed a public hearing where community members shared diverse perspectives on the issue.
Valero supported extending the moratorium, which was initially introduced for 45 days on August 18 to assess the impact of data centers on county resources and infrastructure. He also inquired whether a complete ban on data centers could be considered by county staff during their ongoing analysis, and was informed all options remained open.
In a separate vote, the board adopted a letter opposing data center construction within Tulare County, with a 3-2 vote. Supervisor Valero and Supervisor Dennis Townsend dissented. Valero clarified his 'no' vote on the opposition letter was due to the removal of the word "any" when referring to data center development in a revised template, which he believed weakened the letter's intent to oppose all new data center proposals. The approved letter aims to oppose data center development near county jurisdiction in surrounding cities.