San Jose Spotlight: Advocates Worry San Jose Will Fast Track Data Centers
San Jose is developing uniform standards for data centers amidst community concerns that the city might fast-track approvals without robust environmental and health protections. Advocates are pushing for more transparency, community input, and a pause on new data center approvals, citing high energy and water consumption, especially from AI-focused facilities. The city plans to finalize these standards with community input and launch a website for project transparency.
San Jose is moving forward with creating city-wide standards for data center development, a move that has sparked concern among community advocates who fear these guidelines could fast-track approvals rather than ensure robust environmental and health protections. At a recent Rules and Open Government Committee meeting, Councilmembers David Cohen, Rosemary Kamei, Bien Doan, Domingo Candelas, and Vice Mayor Pam Foley unanimously voted to have the city manager develop these uniform guidelines. The goal is to mitigate environmental impacts, facilitate community engagement, and support cleaner infrastructure, while also fostering economic growth.
Advocates, including Dash Leeds from the Sierra Club Loma Prieta Chapter, express distrust, arguing the city is rushing development without adequate resident input. They highlight that AI-focused data centers consume significantly more energy and water than traditional facilities, posing greater environmental risks like water discharge contamination. Deputy City Manager Manuel Pineda acknowledged the city often does not know the specific use of data centers (e.g., for AI) unless disclosed by developers. The city plans to host in-person community meetings and create a website for project transparency.
Despite calls for a pause on new data center approvals to allow for more studies, Councilmember David Cohen opposed this, stating that data centers have long development timelines. The city has approximately 20 operational data centers, with 6 under construction and 5 in the entitlement review process. Last July, San Jose partnered with PG&E to streamline data center development, with PG&E tasked with providing power grid improvements for 12 projects by 2030 and funding six city staff positions for coordination.
Community leaders like Marcos Espinoza of Alviso in Action and Ellina Yin of Dreaming Collaborative remain cautious, demanding more concrete details and transparency regarding the types of data centers being built and their true impacts, expressing concern that the city's efforts may only serve as a 'checkbox' exercise rather than genuine protection.