Shasta County Data Center Petition Tops 700 Signatures as Board Weighs Ban vs. Rules
A grassroots petition with over 700 signatures is pushing for a ban on data centers in Shasta County, California, due to environmental and resource concerns, despite no specific project proposal. The Shasta County Board of Supervisors is considering either a ban or developing new regulatory ordinances to govern future data center operations.
A grassroots movement in Shasta County, California, led by "No Data Centers Shasta County" and its founder, Kathy Grissom, is actively campaigning for a ban on data center development in the region. Despite no specific data center proposal currently under consideration, the group has gathered over 700 signatures for a petition, citing concerns about environmental degradation, significant water and electricity consumption, and impacts on open spaces. Grissom, a civic leader with a background in environmental and resource management, argues that the county's existing industrial zoning rules are insufficient to regulate the unique impacts of hyperscale computing facilities.
Shasta County District 4 Supervisor Matt Plummer, slated to take office in January 2025, acknowledges the need for specific regulations but advocates for establishing tailored ordinances rather than an outright ban on data centers. Plummer's preference for performance standards over a complete prohibition reflects a broader debate occurring in local governments across California. Both Grissom and Plummer share a background on the Western Shasta Resource Conservation District board, adding a layer of familiarity to their differing approaches.
The situation in Shasta County mirrors challenges faced by other California jurisdictions, including Escondido, Commerce, Patterson, Mendocino County, and Eureka, which have enacted temporary moratoriums due to a lack of specific data center regulations. The article also highlights broader statewide legislative efforts to address data center impacts, such as a Ceres study on water withdrawals for power generation, and recently passed California Assembly Bills 2383, 886, and 1577, which aim to establish specialized electricity rates and mandate energy and water usage reporting for large data centers. The outcome in Shasta County will depend on the Board of Supervisors' response to the petition and their deliberations on potential new ordinances.