Hayward Sets Stage for Data Center Moratorium
The Hayward City Council is considering a temporary moratorium on new data center development, directing staff to prepare a proposal for late October. This decision comes after significant resident opposition, with many advocating for an outright ban on data centers due to concerns about environmental impacts, electricity, and water consumption.
The Hayward City Council has signaled its intent to temporarily halt new data center construction, directing city staff to prepare a moratorium proposal for late October. This move follows an initial push by Mayor Mark Salinas, Mayor Pro Tem George Syrop, and Councilmember Angela Andrews for an immediate formal prohibition on data centers.
The council's decision Tuesday night was a response to a large turnout of residents, a sight rarely seen at recent council meetings, with opponents packing the chambers and demanding an outright ban. Residents cited concerns about the environmental impacts, water and electricity consumption, and noise, calling existing and planned projects a "betrayal" to the community.
The public outcry was intensified by a recent town hall in South Hayward concerning STACK Infrastructure's data center campus, which is currently under construction. This project includes two buildings and has up to 76.6 megawatts of backup generation capacity. City staff also revealed that developers have expressed interest in even larger data centers, though no new applications are currently pending.
The proposed moratorium, whose length is yet undetermined, would allow the city to study these impacts more thoroughly before deciding on potential permanent restrictions. Councilmember Ray Bonilla supported the pause, emphasizing the need to understand these effects, while Councilmember George Syrop urged that an outright ban remain an option.