Oakland approves 45-day moratorium on new data centers
The Oakland City Council voted 7-0 to impose a 45-day moratorium on new data center projects and related approvals. The pause will allow city officials to develop regulations addressing data centers’ electricity and water consumption, backup systems, noise, heat and other environmental impacts.
The Oakland City Council approved a 45-day moratorium on new data center projects in a unanimous 7-0 vote. The proposal, introduced by Councilmember Carroll Fife, pauses approvals while city staff and council members develop planning and land-use regulations for the facilities.
A report presented to the council cited data centers’ substantial electricity and water use, mechanical cooling systems, fossil-fuel backup generators, battery storage, noise, heat and vibration as reasons for the review. Oakland joins San Francisco, Gilroy, Richmond and Oakley in adopting similar pauses, while Hayward is considering one.