In a first for the country, voters in Monterey Park ban data centers
Voters in Monterey Park, California, overwhelmingly passed Measure NDC, a ballot initiative to permanently ban data centers, making it the first city in the nation to do so by public vote. This followed an earlier ordinance ban by the City Council after a proposed 247,000-square-foot data center by HMC StratCap faced intense public opposition and was withdrawn. Residents raised concerns about noise, air pollution, and increased electricity rates.
Residents of Monterey Park, California, have voted overwhelmingly to enact a permanent ban on data centers through Measure NDC, a ballot initiative that passed with 86% of the vote. This makes Monterey Park the first city in the U.S. to implement such a ban via public vote, providing a more permanent restriction than the temporary moratoriums passed in other municipalities across the country.
The measure solidifies an earlier ban implemented by the Monterey Park City Council, which acted after a proposal for a 247,000-square-foot data center sparked significant public outcry. The developer, investment firm HMC StratCap, subsequently withdrew its plans for the facility, which would have been close to residential areas and was projected to consume three times the electricity of the entire city.
Opponents, including the group San Gabriel Valley Progressive Action, lauded the vote as a victory for "people power" and a safeguard against future attempts by developers to influence city councils. The Data Center Coalition, an industry trade group, expressed disappointment, stating the ban signals a negative business environment and deprives residents of economic opportunities. Local opposition groups are now focused on stopping proposals in nearby City of Industry and countering efforts by City of Industry, Santa Fe Springs, Vernon, and City of Commerce to fast-track data center permitting and tax incentives.