LA County supervisors to consider examining health and environmental impacts of data centers

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to consider a motion on Tuesday, April 10, 2026, aimed at assessing the health, environmental, and safety impacts of the region's expanding data center industry. Authored by Supervisor Hilda Solis, the motion highlights concerns over the industry's energy and water consumption, environmental footprint, and potential health effects on neighboring communities, particularly in the context of increasing artificial intelligence demands. There are already over 70 data centers in the county, with more expected. Supervisor Solis's motion also proposes a moratorium on new data center development in unincorporated L.A. County, stating the need for local regulatory oversight due to the perceived lack of community engagement on potential impacts. It directs various county departments, including Public Health, Public Works, and Fire, to conduct studies and review how other jurisdictions regulate data centers. Additionally, it advocates for state legislation that would require large-scale energy users, like data centers, to pay for upfront transmission upgrades. Industry groups, such as the Data Center Coalition, represented by director of state policy Khara Boender, have expressed apprehension about the proposed moratorium, arguing it sends a negative signal to developers. Environmental organizations like the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) support increased regulation, citing the industry's "under-regulated" expansion and its strain on energy systems, water supplies, and air quality. The NRDC, along with a 2026 report by Community & Environmental Defense Services, suggests that data center pollutants can impact health up to 0.6 miles away. However, Boender counters that such concerns are "overstated" and emphasizes the "positive economic impacts" of data centers, citing a Pricewaterhouse report on job creation.