San Francisco supervisor seeks moratorium on new data centers

San Francisco District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton announced a proposal for a 45-day moratorium on new data center approvals and construction, citing unknown environmental and community impacts. Speaking at a press conference outside City Hall, Walton stated the legislation would allow the city to "press 'pause' and do the responsible thing for our communities" by investigating these impacts and creating an updated regulatory ordinance. The proposal comes after a recent plan for a data center at the Cow Palace in Daly City, just outside San Francisco's city limits, and the existence of ten other data centers within six miles, primarily in the Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhood.

Residents, including Geoffrea Morris and community activist Dion-Jay Brookter, voiced strong opposition, noting that five private data centers already exist in Bayview, quietly approved under outdated 2001 rules. They expressed concern that these facilities are disproportionately located in working-class, predominantly Black neighborhoods, echoing a pattern seen nationwide where controversial developments are placed in underserved communities. Brookter, a candidate for District 10 supervisor, highlighted the "disproportionality" and the belief that environmental burdens unfairly fall on their district.

Supervisor Walton emphasized that the 45-day moratorium is the maximum initial period, extendable to 220 days, and would halt new permits, construction, and power capacity increases for existing centers. Supporters of the pause aim to use this time to develop a more current and comprehensive ordinance to regulate the rapidly expanding data center industry, addressing concerns from community members and even some AI CEOs who advocate for a slowdown in development.