Protesters Call for Halt of Pittsburg A.I. Data Center
Residents in Pittsburg, California, are protesting an already-approved 76-acre AI data center, the 'Perseus Project,' developed by AVAIO Digital. Activists cite concerns about environmental pollution from backup diesel generators, water scarcity, increased energy costs, and a lack of community involvement in the approval process. Over 27,000 people have signed a petition calling for a moratorium on the project, which is planned for the former Delta View Golf Course.
Residents of Pittsburg, California, are actively protesting an approved 76-acre AI data center, known as the 'Perseus Project,' developed by AVAIO Digital. The community's opposition, organized by the citizen-led Stop Pittsburg Data Center coalition, centers on concerns about environmental pollution, including unquantified carbon emissions from 37 backup diesel generators located near residential areas, schools, and a church.
Opponents also cite potential issues like water scarcity and increased energy costs, arguing that the project, despite its promise of jobs and tax revenue, threatens their way of life and community health. Jaxon Pink, a 14-year-old resident, highlighted the project's location in a low-income community, questioning the benefits it brings to local residents. Over 27,675 people have signed a petition advocating for a moratorium on the project, with many residents claiming inadequate communication from the City of Pittsburg regarding the data center's impact.
Conversely, AVAIO Digital asserts the project will create approximately 150 construction jobs and 20-30 permanent positions, generate around $2.4 million in annual taxes for city services, and operate with 90% zero-carbon energy and recycled wastewater for cooling. Jordan Davis, Pittsburg's director of community and economic development, emphasized the data center's role as a major investment, bringing high-quality jobs and long-term revenue. However, activists like Amari Perkins contend the environmental and health risks outweigh these economic benefits.
Despite the project's approval, residents express anger over feeling excluded from the decision-making process, with many claiming they were unaware of the data center until it was presented as a 'done deal.' With operations slated for 2027, the community continues to organize and apply pressure to prevent the data center's construction, believing they must 'save ourselves' from the perceived harms.