‘They’ve Been Very Quiet’: Pittsburg Residents Seek Answers as Data Center Sets Up Shop in City
Pittsburg residents are rallying against a previously approved data center project by AVAIO Digital, citing environmental concerns and a lack of transparency from city officials. A special city council meeting has been scheduled to discuss data center policy and the project amid growing public pushback. The city had previously settled a lawsuit with the Center for Biological Diversity, agreeing to use 100% renewable energy and recycled water.
Pittsburg residents are intensifying their opposition to a planned data center by AVAIO Digital at a former golf course, with a rally preceding a special city council meeting this week. Although the city council approved Phase 1 of the Pittsburg Technology Park project, which includes the data center, in 2024, public criticism has surged in recent months. Residents, led by the 'Stop Pittsburg Data Center' coalition formed by Amhari Perkins, express concerns over the project's water and energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, noise, and a perceived lack of transparency from city officials.
The Center for Biological Diversity previously sued the city over similar environmental issues, leading to a settlement in late 2025 that mandates the data center use 100% renewable energy and recycled water for cooling. City Manager Darin Gale states that the final project will use significantly less water than the former golf course. Despite the approved construction, council members have remained quiet publicly amidst the backlash, prompting the special meeting to discuss data center policy and potential future regulations, contrasting with nearby cities like Oakley and Brentwood that have explored or enacted temporary bans on such facilities.
Council members Juan Antonio Banales and Jelani Killings, who sit on an advisory subcommittee for data centers, have not publicly commented on the renewed opposition, though Banales previously cited economic development benefits. The city maintains it met all public notice requirements, and the project is now being referred to as the 'AVAIO Data Center Project' for clarity. AVAIO Digital posits that the Pittsburg location will help meet the increasing demand for data centers outside of Silicon Valley.