Pittsburg residents voice concerns over data center project at city council meeting
Pittsburg, California, is facing intense community opposition to a proposed data center on a former golf course, with residents citing concerns about energy consumption, noise, water usage, and traffic. A lawsuit has been filed against the city by the Center for Biological Diversity over alleged environmental impact failures. A petition to halt the project has gathered over 13,000 signatures.
The city of Pittsburg, California, is facing strong community opposition to its plans for a new data center on the site of the former Delta View Golf Course, which closed in 2018. The city had moved to sell the land for a technology park, anticipating revenue and jobs, but residents at a recent city council meeting voiced numerous concerns.
Residents highlighted issues such as projected energy consumption, noise levels, increased water usage, and potential traffic congestion on West Leland Road. Some also expressed worry that the industrial facility would negatively impact the city's character. The meeting reportedly became "heated" as residents accused the council of a lack of transparency and insufficient public input in the decision-making process.
Adding to the controversy, the Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit against the city in December. The lawsuit alleges that Pittsburg failed to adequately identify the data center's impacts on local wildlife and greenhouse gas emissions, despite the city's own environmental review concluding that harmful impacts could be mitigated. The city maintains that the data center's power consumption would be separate from the residential power supply.
A petition to halt the project has garnered over 13,000 signatures. Residents are advocating for alternative uses for the land that would directly benefit the community. This situation mirrors similar discussions in other cities, with Oakley, for instance, recently approving a ban on data centers.