Leaders push back against proposed 400-megawatt data center for NAVWAR site
San Diego leaders and community members are opposing a proposed 400-megawatt data center at the federally owned NAVWAR site near Old Town. Mayor Todd Gloria signed an executive order proposing a temporary moratorium on data center development while the city develops safeguards, with the measure scheduled for a City Council vote.
San Diego Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera organized a rally at City Hall opposing consideration of a 400-megawatt data center at the NAVWAR site near Old Town. Elo-Rivera said Mayor Todd Gloria signed an executive order establishing a temporary moratorium while the city develops permanent safeguards addressing electricity, water, air quality, worker protections, clean-energy requirements and community input. The proposed moratorium is scheduled to go before the San Diego City Council for a vote Monday.
The property is federally owned, limiting the city’s ability to block development on its own, prompting calls for congressional intervention. Manchester Financial Group is considering several possible uses for the roughly 70-acre site, including housing, a medical center, university campuses and a data center, but the company said no data center deal is underway and that discussions with energy providers remain informational. The Navy is conducting an environmental review and has not decided whether to build new facilities itself or pursue a lease allowing private development.