Congressional candidate demands pause on Central Valley data center expansion

Democratic congressional candidate Randy Villegas is advocating for a one-year moratorium on new data center construction across California's Central Valley, citing concerns about stressed infrastructure, increased utility costs, and resource depletion. Villegas, who is running to represent the 22nd Congressional District encompassing parts of Kern, Tulare, Kings, and Fresno counties, emphasizes the potential negative impacts on local communities, particularly regarding land use, water consumption, and electricity expenses for residents.

Villegas's proposal includes five standards for the United States Congress to implement, such as requiring technology companies to cover the full cost of electricity and infrastructure, protecting the Central Valley's water supply crucial for agriculture, and ensuring local union jobs. He argues that unchecked big tech development makes life too expensive for working families. Villegas is scheduled to discuss these concerns at a non-partisan town hall in Hanford later this week. He contrasts his stance with that of his opponent, Republican incumbent David Valadao, who Villegas claims supports large-scale data center expansion.

The candidate highlights the significant water usage of data centers, with medium-sized facilities consuming up to 110 million gallons annually. This concern is particularly acute in the Central Valley, a region historically plagued by water supply issues and accelerating groundwater depletion. Villegas also calls for congressional action on data privacy and AI regulation. He points to precedents like New York Governor Kathy Hochul's executive order establishing a statewide moratorium on hyperscale data center permits as an example of similar actions.