SF Supervisor Plans Moratorium on New Data Centers, With Permanent Ban to Follow
San Francisco Supervisor Shamann Walton plans to introduce a 45-day moratorium on new data center construction, with the goal of enacting a permanent citywide ban. The proposal aims to allow the city to study the environmental impacts of data centers, particularly in District 10, which already hosts active facilities and faces expansion plans. Residents and political candidates support the measure, citing concerns over pollution, electricity, and water usage.
San Francisco District 10 Supervisor Shamann Walton is proposing a 45-day moratorium on new data center construction, intending for it to be a precursor to a permanent citywide ban. The temporary halt would allow the city to thoroughly examine the environmental effects of data centers, addressing concerns raised by residents in District 10 neighborhoods like Bayview-Hunters Point, which have historically experienced disproportionate exposure to pollution.
The initial 45-day moratorium, if approved by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and supported by a finding from the Planning Commission, could be extended for nearly two years. This move would impact existing facilities like NOVVA at 400 Paul Avenue, which is planning a significant expansion, and Digital Realty at 200 Paul Avenue. Another proposed 10-megawatt facility by Global Stack at the Cow Palace in Daly City, bordering District 10, could also be affected.
Residents and local candidates vying to replace Walton have voiced strong support for the moratorium, highlighting issues such as substantial electricity and water consumption, air pollution from backup generators, and strain on local electrical grids. They advocate for establishing environmental protections, community input requirements, and public disclosure of resource use before allowing further data center development. Walton's proposal mirrors actions in other California counties that have adopted similar restrictions on data centers.