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Tulare County stalls data center developments with moratorium. It could be extended
Tulare County has enacted a 45-day moratorium on data center development in unincorporated areas, with a potential extension to a year, to study the impacts on water, power, air quality, and agriculture. Meanwhile, the cities of Hanford and Visalia are also considering or have taken steps to oppose or restrict data center projects within their jurisdictions. This comes amid opposition to Global Stack LLC's proposal to build edge computing systems at local fairgrounds.
The Tulare County Board of Supervisors has enacted an interim ordinance establishing a 45-day moratorium on data center development in all unincorporated parts of the county. This pause, which could be extended up to a year, aims to allow the county to evaluate the potential impacts of data centers on public health, safety, and infrastructure, specifically addressing concerns related to water consumption, electrical demand, noise pollution, agriculture, and air quality.
During the moratorium discussion, Supervisors Larry Micari and Eddie Valero voiced support for opposing data center developments throughout the county, including those in other jurisdictions or within city limits. This comes as residents in both Tulare and Kings counties have raised concerns about Global Stack LLC's proposal to install compact edge computing systems at the fairgrounds in both counties. The Tulare County Fair board previously tabled a decision on leasing land to Global Stack.
The city of Hanford has also publicly declared its opposition to data center developments within or adjacent to its community, emphasizing the necessity of thorough local review, public participation, environmental analysis, and enforceable protections. City Manager Chris Tavarez highlighted the importance of openly evaluating such projects' long-term impacts on residents and public services.
Concurrently, the Visalia City Council discussed a proposal for its own data center moratorium, driven by concerns over significant water and electricity usage. Councilmember Brian Poochigian underscored the city's struggles with groundwater and power, suggesting data centers do not align with Visalia's planning goals and offer limited job creation. The council approved adding the moratorium discussion to a future agenda, signaling a unified stance against high-intensity data center uses in the city.