Before the Gavel: Residents Warn of Environmental, Safety Risks as Pasadena Weighs Data Center Policy

A group of Pasadena residents has submitted written comments to the city's Housing, Homelessness and Planning Committee, urging caution regarding potential data center development within the city. The residents highlighted a broad range of environmental and safety concerns, including increased greenhouse gas emissions, significant water usage, reliance on fossil fuels for electricity, and air pollution from backup diesel generators. They specifically pointed to the strain on water resources in arid regions like Southern California. Beyond environmental impacts, the letter raised alarms about safety risks from emerging technologies, particularly quantum data centers utilizing cryogenic cooling systems, citing past catastrophic incidents involving liquid nitrogen. Concerns were also voiced about large-scale battery backup systems, which contain hazardous materials and have been linked to fires and explosions. The residents are advocating for an expanded regulatory framework, including a distinct zoning category for quantum data centers, to specifically address these risks. Local anxieties are amplified by reports of Amazon Web Services acquiring a property in the Pasadena Technology Center, adjacent to a high fire hazard zone and near Pasadena High School and residential areas. Although Amazon has stated there are no plans for a data center at this site, residents expressed fear that a data center fire in such a location could spread toxic ash. The city officials are in early discussions about allowing data centers as a new land use, as they are currently not permitted under the existing zoning code. The committee is scheduled to receive an informational presentation on the matter, with no immediate vote planned.