Will Perris join other Southern California cities in banning data centers?
The Perris City Council is scheduled to discuss potential bans or regulations on data center development, following concerns from residents about their intensive water and power consumption. The city currently lacks specific rules for data centers, and officials are exploring options ranging from a citywide ban to allowing them with conditional-use permits. This comes as other Southern California cities have already enacted bans or restrictions.
The Perris City Council in California is set to discuss potential measures to ban or restrict data centers within the city's limits. The meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, June 9, at Perris City Hall, will consider various options after Councilmember David Starr Rabb requested officials to research the facilities in January.
Rabb stated he has been "inundated" with residents' concerns regarding data centers' high water and power usage, aiming to preemptively address these issues. The city, which is in western Riverside County, currently has no data centers under development and no specific regulations governing them. However, Rabb also expressed caution against an outright "straightjacket" ban that might prevent future development if data centers become more environmentally friendly.
A report prepared for the council highlighted that large data centers can consume 20 to 100 megawatts of electricity and millions of gallons of water daily, significantly more than typical homes or warehouses. While data centers offer higher property tax revenue and some high-paying jobs, they provide fewer overall employment opportunities for the local population compared to warehouses.
Perris is considering its options as other Southern California cities like Monterey Park have banned data centers, and Indio and Coachella have enacted temporary bans, while Santa Clara and El Segundo have imposed operational limits. The Perris report outlines choices for the council, including a citywide ban, allowing data centers with conditional-use permits in industrial zones, or permitting them by right in industrial areas.