Oakley City Council passes 45-day A.I. data center moratorium

The Oakley City Council has unanimously enacted a 45-day urgency ordinance, imposing a moratorium on new artificial intelligence data center land-use applications, making it the first city in the Bay Area to do so. Citing significant concerns over water and power consumption, Mayor Hugh Henderson emphasized the need for permanent zoning regulations or an outright ban by the end of the calendar year. This initial moratorium is a prerequisite under state law for establishing a permanent ban. The council's strategy includes extending the moratorium for an additional 10 months at their May 12 meeting and holding a joint workshop with the Planning Commission over the summer. This workshop will explore amendments to the zoning code, with proposed changes expected to go before the Planning Commission and then the City Council for final approval in the fall. City Attorney Derek Cole clarified that while an immediate ban was not legally feasible, the current process is designed to prevent any gaps that could allow data center applications to proceed. Councilmembers Shannon Shaw and Anissa Williams stressed the importance of a swift yet publicly informed process, with Williams recalling past difficulties in establishing moratoriums on other types of businesses. Residents like Debra Sidrian and Bud Chaddock voiced strong support for a ban, despite Chaddock's acknowledgment of the challenge cities face against large corporations. The council members expressed firm commitment to addressing the issue comprehensively. The article also included a separate, detailed discussion about BART's financial challenges, which is unrelated to the data centers but was presented at the same council meeting.