Monterey Park Voters Ban Data Centers in Historic Vote

Monterey Park, California, has become the first U.S. city to enact a permanent ban on data centers through a public vote, with Measure NDC passing overwhelmingly with 86% support. This historic decision amends the city's land use policies to prohibit data center development indefinitely, unless reversed by a future vote. The move follows growing community concerns regarding the significant environmental and infrastructural demands of these facilities.

The ban was prompted by a previous proposal from investment firm HMC StratCap to build a large data center in the city. In response to this proposal, the Monterey Park City Council had initially imposed a moratorium on data center development. HMC StratCap subsequently withdrew its application after the council decided to place Measure NDC on the ballot. Councilmember Jose Sanchez highlighted that the vote strongly reflects the community's opposition to data centers.

This action by Monterey Park is part of a broader national trend, as other municipalities and states are also considering similar measures to regulate data center expansion. Examples include Port Washington, Wisconsin, where voters now require approval for data center tax incentives, and upcoming votes in Michigan and Nevada concerning zoning and development.

While local advocacy groups, such as No Data Center in Monterey Park, celebrated the outcome as a triumph for community involvement, the Data Center Coalition expressed reservations, suggesting that such bans could impede economic growth and job creation. Monterey Park's decision is anticipated to serve as a significant model for other communities grappling with the proliferation and impact of data centers.