Perris data center proposal faces no opposition, surprising officials
A proposal by Global Stack for an "edge" data center at the Southern California Fairgrounds in Perris encountered no public opposition at a recent board meeting, surprising officials amidst widespread anti-data center sentiment in California. While many other cities and counties have rejected similar projects or enacted moratoriums, the Perris board signed a nonbinding agreement to allow further feasibility studies. The article highlights statewide concerns about data center water and electricity usage, even for smaller facilities.
The article details the growing opposition to data centers across California, highlighting that facilities have been banned in Monterey Park and Coachella, with several other towns enacting temporary moratoriums. Despite a recent survey indicating 73% public opposition to data center construction in their communities, a proposed "edge" data center by Global Stack at the Southern California Fairgrounds in Perris encountered no opposition during an August 26 board meeting. This surprised CEO Russell Vandenberg, who noted the contrast with other fairground meetings where Global Stack's proposals faced dozens of protesters.
Global Stack's proposal for Perris involves a smaller data center on a 5-acre parcel, part of a plan to establish these facilities at up to 70 fairgrounds statewide. The company is now marketing its projects as "emergency response systems" focused on disaster relief, utilizing helipads and "blackout-proof operations" to distance itself from the negative perception of large data centers. However, this re-branding has largely been ineffective in other parts of California.
Previous Global Stack proposals for fairgrounds in Calistoga, Solano County, and Sonoma County have been declined due to public pushback. Tulare and Kings Counties, along with Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, have signed nonbinding memorandums of understanding (MOUs), but residents continue to voice concerns. UC Riverside professor Shaolei Ren warned that even smaller data centers, like Global Stack's 8-10 MW proposal, can still strain local grids and have a significant water footprint due to associated electricity generation, despite the company's claims of a "closed-loop cooling system." Concerns have also been raised about the company's newness and potential conflicts of interest involving a California Department of Food and Agriculture official. Despite the MOU, Vandenberg emphasizes that the Perris project is far from approved.