Humboldt County weighs detention facility and data center bans

Humboldt County supervisors have taken initial steps towards implementing a one-year moratorium on new data center construction, alongside drafting permanent bans on certain other industrial facilities. The decision to consider a data center moratorium stems from public concerns regarding the environmental impact, specifically electricity and water consumption, of large-scale data centers, though Supervisor Natalie Arroyo noted that a smaller data center already operates in Arcata without major issues.

In a separate but related move, the supervisors also directed staff to draft a ban on detention facilities, including those operated by federal immigration authorities. This initiative follows public speculation that a proposed Amazon distribution center in McKinleyville could potentially be converted into an immigration detention center, despite Amazon's denial of any involvement with ICE.

Supervisor Michelle Bushnell expressed reservations about the accumulating bans, suggesting they might impede economic development within Humboldt County. Additionally, the supervisors moved to develop permanent prohibitions on onshore support for offshore oil development and deep-sea mining, reflecting existing voter sentiment that had not been formally enacted.