San Diego City Council to vote on data center moratorium this week
The San Diego City Council is scheduled to vote on a 45-day emergency moratorium covering new data centers and expansions of existing facilities. The proposal follows community opposition to a potential large-scale data center at the federal NAVWAR site, while Mayor Todd Gloria has already signed an executive order freezing data center construction.
The San Diego City Council is expected to vote this week on a temporary moratorium that would halt new data center construction and expansions for 45 days, with the possibility of an extension. City leaders say the pause would provide time to develop permanent rules and guardrails addressing issues such as energy costs, neighborhood impacts and water use.
The debate centers in part on the possible redevelopment of the federal NAVWAR site into what proponents describe as California's largest data center. Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera has opposed the concept and urged Congress to remove it from consideration, while resident Francisco Martinez supports development if the land is otherwise available. Project CEO Ted Elridge said the broader redevelopment is also considering medical, university, defense and life-sciences facilities, and that discussions with energy providers remain preliminary. Mayor Todd Gloria has signed an executive order freezing data center construction, and Poway recently adopted a ban citing air quality, noise and water-use concerns.