San Francisco supervisors seek 45-day pause on new data centers as AI fuels concerns
San Francisco supervisors are proposing a 45-day moratorium on new data center approvals to assess environmental impacts, including water use, energy demand, pollution, and noise. They argue that the city's current 2001 regulations are outdated for modern AI-driven technology and seek to develop updated, permanent rules. The pause would allow for a study into the long-term consequences of data center development.
San Francisco's Board of Supervisors, led by Supervisor Shamann Walton and co-sponsors Connie Chan, Jackie Fielder, and Chyanne Chen, has introduced an urgent ordinance proposing a 45-day moratorium on new data center approvals. The supervisors cited concerns about the environmental impacts of the rapidly growing artificial intelligence industry, including increased water use, energy demand, pollution, and noise.
The proposed pause aims to allow the Board of Supervisors and the Planning Department to study these impacts and develop updated, long-term regulatory rules, as the city currently regulates data centers under an outdated 2001 "internet service exchange" designation. Walton highlighted the need for modern regulations to address the effects of data centers in residential communities, particularly in areas like Bayview and South of Market that already face environmental issues.
If approved, the moratorium would immediately halt new data center permits for 45 days, with the possibility of extension or replacement by permanent regulations. This initiative aligns with actions in other localities, such as Gilroy in Santa Clara County, which recently approved its own 45-day moratorium on data center applications. The supervisors emphasized their responsibility to protect residents, workers, and the environment by thoroughly vetting the consequences of data center development before further approvals.